Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk criticized Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure for igniting an on-pitch brawl that marred the Merseyside Derby, which ended in chaos. The match took a dramatic turn when James Tarkowski scored a 98th-minute equalizer for Everton, leading to a post-match melee that resulted in four red cards: Doucoure, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, and both Arne Slot and Sipke Hulshoff from Liverpool’s coaching staff.
Van Dijk stated, “You saw they celebrated the goal; they have every right to. Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans. Curtis didn’t think it was the right thing to do. The referee didn’t have the game under control. I said it to him.” He added that Doucoure’s actions were a “very big provocation,” and expressed concern that the referee, Michael Oliver, failed to manage the situation effectively.
As the pandemonium unfolded in the final moments of the match, some fans even entered the field of play, escalating tensions further. Beto had given Everton an early lead, but goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead before Tarkowski’s late equalizer.
David Moyes, reflecting on the chaotic atmosphere, noted, “The emotions were running high all night; the stadium was at fever pitch. It was one of the big nights.” He acknowledged the challenges ahead for the team, emphasizing the need for improvement and the hope for new ownership to bolster Everton’s performance.
Regarding Doucoure’s dismissal, Moyes expressed disappointment, stating he had not initially seen the incident but later regretted losing a player who had performed well that night. Due to the red cards issued, Slot was unable to fulfill his post-match media obligations, and with Hulshoff also sent off, assistant manager Johnny Heitinga is set to lead the team in their upcoming match against Wolves.