Even though Liverpool managed to secure a point, captain Virgil van Dijk sees the draw against Everton as no different from a loss.
The game took a dramatic turn in the final moments when Everton found the net, completely shifting the momentum. Tensions flared instantly, and by the time the final whistle blew, chaos erupted. The match ended in controversy, with four red cards shown. Van Dijk, clearly frustrated by the heated ending, didn’t hold back in blaming referee Michael Oliver for losing control.
This was the last Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park before Everton moves to their new stadium. The historic venue witnessed a dramatic 2-2 draw on Wednesday.
The hosts took an early lead through Beto, but Liverpool quickly responded with a goal from Alexis Mac Allister. In the second half, Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead, seemingly setting them up for a win.
However, in the eighth minute of added time, James Tarkowski’s equalizer shattered Liverpool’s hopes.
Before they could launch a counterattack, the referee blew the final whistle, sparking an intense confrontation. The controversy started right after Tarkowski’s goal when Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans, triggering an angry reaction from Curtis Jones.
Jones confronted Doucouré, and soon, players from both benches got involved, escalating the situation into a heated altercation.
Security and stadium officials had to step in to restore order. In the aftermath, referee Michael Oliver handed out two second yellow cards to Doucouré and Jones, while Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff received straight red cards.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Van Dijk pointed out the provocation in Everton’s goal celebration.
“We all saw how they celebrated. They had the right to, of course, but I think Doucouré wanted to provoke our fans, and Curtis felt that wasn’t okay,” Van Dijk said.
“When things escalate like that, we know what happens. In my opinion, the referee lost control, and I told him that. Both teams suffered the consequences. We got a point and will move forward.”
Despite the draw, Van Dijk viewed the result as a major disappointment.
“It happened in stoppage time, and I believe the referee played a big role in this game. Some challenges went against us, while similar ones for them didn’t,” he added.
“They’ve been scoring late goals this season, and that will be a huge boost for them. But for us, it’s a tough blow.”
Even so, the single point kept Liverpool on track in their title race. They remain at the top of the Premier League table with 57 points from 24 matches (17 wins, 6 draws). Arsenal sits second, seven points behind.
Meanwhile, Everton, with 27 points from 24 games, is currently in 15th place under David Moyes.
