Everton and Liverpool’s final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park resulted in an exciting 2-2 draw. In the midst of the commotion was Abdoulaye Doucoure. Following the final whistle, the Toffees’ midfielder was sent out for inciting the away section after James Tarkowski equalized in the 90+8th minute.
Alexis Mac Allister’s beautiful header five minutes later gave the home team the lead after Beto’s skillful strike in the eleventh minute. The Reds were hoping to secure a vital three points when Mohamed Salah scored a close-range goal in the 73rd minute.
Tarkowski hit a piledriver at the final second when the ball fell to the English defender, but it wasn’t without controversy, and he had other plans. A protracted VAR review of the goal was prompted by the visitors’ protests about an alleged foul on Ibrahima Konate during the build-up. But once again, the Gwladys Street End and other Goodison Park fans went into a frenzy as Michael Oliver awarded the goal.
Doucoure had a heated conversation with Van Dijk and Arne Slot.
The Everton midfielder was one of four players sent off following the match.
When Doucoure aimed his jubilation at the away supporters, much to Curtis Jones’ ire, the incident spilled out into the derby’s aftermath. The Liverpool midfielder went right for the Malian, and after a brief altercation, the two groups of players got into a fight that officials and stewards had to break up.
As Doucoure continued to enjoy his team’s thrilling draw, Oliver gave Jones a second yellow and then a red card for his conduct. After receiving a second booking and a red card, he verbally clashed with Virgil van Dijk, the captain of the Reds, in a conversation that was captured on video and audible over the microphones.
Regarding his red card, Van Dijk questioned Doucoure:
Following the same fate for his aide Sipke Hulshoff, Arne Slot became the fourth man to be sent off. The Liverpool manager, clearly confused by the goal’s award, shook Oliver’s hand angrily.
When Doucoure saw the Dutch coach dismissed, he and Van Dijk resumed their argument:
Oi this clip of Doucoure arguing with van dijk then seeing slot sent off in the background😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/tUKagiqQVP
— AB 🔴☀️🟢 (@afcroyce) February 12, 2025
After Doucoure was sent out, David Moyes expressed his frustration at losing him for his team’s forthcoming match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, February 15: “I didn’t see it from where I was.” I’m disappointed because Doucoure played a great game tonight, but I’m going to lose him now that he’s received a second yellow card, which has now turned into a red.
However, it was the ideal farewell to the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before to Everton’s relocation to Bramley-Moore Dock. Slot’s league leaders now lead Arsenal by seven points as a result of the outcome, while Moyes’ team is in 15th place, 10 points above the drop zone.
