Virgil van Dijk accused the referee Michael Oliver of failing to control the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park as Arne Slot, his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré were all sent off amid wild scenes after the final whistle.
James Tarkowski rescued a point for Everton in their fight to avoid relegation with a stunning 98th‑minute volley. Five minutes of added time had been signalled.
Related: Everton’s Tarkowski thwarts Liverpool as final Goodison derby ends in brawl
When the final whistle eventually blew after two VAR reviews, Doucouré celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans. A furious Jones grabbed the Everton midfielder and sparked a melee between both sets of players and staff.
The Liverpool head coach and his assistant were then dismissed by Oliver for protesting against the decision to allow Tarkowski’s last‑gasp equaliser to stand.
Slot was unable to conduct post‑match media duties because of Premier League rules that prevent a manager who has been shown a red card from speaking. But the Liverpool captain made his feelings clear.
“It was a very big provocation from one certain player,” Van Dijk said. “We all saw it and reacted as a team as we were able to do. You know what happens nowadays, it becomes one big tussle. Then it is not me who has to deal with it, it is the referee and today I am not sure he had it fully under control.”
Liverpool would have gone nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal with victory and Van Dijk admitted: “To concede an equaliser that late is always disappointing.
“We saw the celebrations they had in the end so we know how much it meant for them but the fact is it was disappointing for us. We kept fighting but in the end it wasn’t enough to get it over the line.”
David Moyes insisted Everton deserved a point from the final Goodison derby and the post-match red cards should not detract from the togetherness shown by his team.
The Everton manager said: “It was mayhem all game, a bit of an old‑fashioned throwback. The bit after the game is not really what we should be talking about. I am disappointed with Doucouré getting a red because we are short of players as it is. But the place was boiling all night.”
The Everton manager also viewed Tarkowski’s strike as a fitting farewell to the era of Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park.
“It is hugely important that Evertonians get to finish at their stadium in the best way they can,” he said. “The support in here was unbelievable tonight, incredible, and it is fitting they got an end like they did.
“We didn’t win, which was the disappointing thing. It would have been hard to come here losing 2-1 and talking about it. Everyone stayed until the end, which was a magical moment. The bit of to-ing and fro-ing at the end probably added to the entertainment of the night.”
