Liverpool were forced to cancel manager Arne Slot’s press conference after a chaotic ending to the last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The fizzing Dutchman and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both sent off after the full-time whistle as Everton stunned the leaders by netting a 98th-minute equaliser. Despite Beto’s initial goal for the Toffees, the Reds seemed on course for victory following Alexis Mac Allister’s leveller and a late goal from Mo Salah. But James Tarkowski dramatically equalised eight minutes into stoppage time.
The goal was only confirmed after VAR checks for offside and a foul. However, Slot was incensed that it was allowed to stand and vehemently protested to referee Michael Oliver. The Anfield boss had a heated exchange with Oliver before giving the whistler an irate handshake, which resulted in him being brandished a red card. Slot was perplexed by the decision, but he was unable to vent his frustration after the match.
That’s because current Premier League rules prevent any player, coach or manager who receives a red card from conducting post-match interviews with the media. Bizarrely, there was no senior Liverpool representation at all in the Goodison Park press room, as No.2 Hulshoff was also sent off for furiously disputing with Oliver over the awarding of Tarkowski’s goal. That left the visitors with no option but to cancel the coaching press conference, and captain Virgil van Dijk was sent to speak with the broadcast media instead.
Slot and Hulshoff will both be given touchline bans for this weekend’s game against struggling Wolves. First-team coach John Heitinga will take charge of the team, with Slot and his assistant relegated to the stands. The pair were sent off along with two others in a frantic night at Goodison Park. Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure sparked a post-match rammy after he was seen goading the Liverpool fans, causing an altercation with Curtis Jones, which led to a rammy between both teams.
Doucoure and Jones were eventually sent off by ref Oliver, but not before police and stewards stepped in to calm the escalated tensions. An incensed Van Dijk later criticised Everton, blasting: “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
“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.”