The Premier League have backed Michael Oliver’s decision to brandish four red cards after the final whistle of Wednesday’s chaotic draw between Everton and Liverpool.
In an instant classic, the bitter rivals played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, with James Tarkowski equalising for the Toffees in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Reds boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were left furious that Tarkowski’s goal had been allowed to stand.
VAR checked for both a foul and offside in the build-up but saw no reason to chalk it off. With a statement from the Premier League reading: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR, who established that Doucoure was in an onside position in the build-up.”
Slot and Hulshoff confronted referee Michael Oliver after the final whistle, with both receiving red cards.
Before the duo had seen red, a mass brawl broke out between Liverpool and Everton players, sparked when Toffees star Abdoulaye Doucoure’s taunted the away fans. Reds midfielder Curtis Jones took exception and shoved Doucoure, with their team-mates joining the melee.
Police and stewards attempted to separate the warring players, while a bottle thrown from the stands hit Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on the head. Jones and Doucoure were both then sent off, with the Premier League now backing those decisions.
A statement read: “The referee issued second yellow cards and red cards to Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré following an altercation after the final whistle. Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown straight red cards after the final whistle.”
Slot was prevented from speaking to the press due to his sending off, with captain Virgil van Dijk providing the initial reaction from the Liverpool camp. The defender made a sly dig at Everton as he blasted Doucoure.
“This is their cup final. We saw it last year, and this year it’s a big blow. Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans. Curtis didn’t think that was the right thing to do. I think the referee didn’t have the game in control; I said that to him,” Van Dijk fumed.
“It was a very big provocation from one certain player. 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.”
Everton boss David Moyes meanwhile admitted he was disappointed in Doucoure for his actions. But he insisted he was delighted to see his side claim a precious point from their rivals.
“Mental probably sums it up. A brilliant finish for us, to finish the last Goodison Merseyside derby and score in the last minute is in a way fitting. [Tarkowski] had the quality which was the one that really mattered,” he told TNT Sports.
“I’m disappointed with Doucoure because we need him, we’re down on numbers at the moment. We’ve got to be careful what we do. Discipline is never easy sometimes in these games and tonight was a game where quite easily sending offs happen.”
