Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his frustration after a dramatic Merseyside derby ended in controversy, with Everton snatching a late equalizer and tempers flaring at Goodison Park.
Mohamed Salah’s goal had Liverpool on course for a crucial victory that would have put them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
However, James Tarkowski’s stunning stoppage-time equalizer sent Everton fans into raptures, securing a 1-1 draw in the final derby at Goodison before the Toffees move to their new stadium.
The chaos didn’t stop there. After the final whistle, Abdoulaye Doucoure sparked a melee by celebrating in front of the travelling Liverpool fans, shushing them in the process. Curtis Jones reacted by pushing the Everton midfielder, leading to a heated confrontation involving both squads.
Referee Michael Oliver responded by sending off both Doucoure and Jones, along with Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff.
Speaking after the game, van Dijk took a swipe at Everton’s approach, suggesting they treated the match as their “cup final.”
“They do the same things that they always do,” he told TNT Sport. “They are very direct, they fight for the first and second balls. We all know this is their cup final, and they try everything in their power to make it difficult for us.”
Van Dijk also criticized referee Oliver, claiming he lost control of the game.
“We saw how they celebrated the goal, and they have all the right to do that. But Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans, and Curtis didn’t think that was right,” van Dijk said.
“We know what happens when there’s a tussle, but I think the ref didn’t have the game under control. I told him that at full-time. Both teams had to deal with it, but we take the point and move on.”
The draw was a frustrating setback for Liverpool, who missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Everton continued their resurgence under David Moyes, moving 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
With tensions running high and emotions boiling over, this final Goodison Park derby will be remembered as one of the most explosive in recent history.