Virgil van Dijk has finally clarified his remarks to referee Michael Oliver following the chaotic conclusion of Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. After goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah overturned Beto’s early opener, Liverpool seemed to be safe. However, their joy was short-lived as James Tarkowski’s volley in the 98th minute saved Everton a thrilling late equalizer, far outside the permitted stoppage time.
At the last whistle, the exciting 2-2 draw came to a head. Curtis Jones got into an altercation with Abdoulaye Doucoure as the latter ran toward the away end to taunt Liverpool supporters. Following the dismissal of both players due to escalating tempers and scuffles, Arne Slot and assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff were also fired for angrily arguing with the referees over Tarkowski’s contentious goal, which had been the subject of a protracted VAR review for offside and a possible foul on Ibrahima Konate.
It became increasingly apparent during the game that Oliver was having trouble staying in control of what many saw as the most important Premier League encounter of the year. Oliver was once again in the center of criticism following a number of controversial calls, and Liverpool lost the opportunity to increase their advantage over Arsenal to nine points at the top.
What Virgil Van Dijk Said To Michael Oliver
The Liverpool captain left no doubts about his feelings
Oliver stopped play 29 times for fouls, including 20 against Liverpool and 9 against Everton. He also gave two yellow cards to each team and four red cards to players and staff. However, since both sides of Stanley Park have since produced films exposing his questionable calls, the veracity of those decisions is still up for debate.
Van Dijk was one of several players who were observed confronting Oliver about his refereeing during the game after the final whistle. The Liverpool captain, filling in for his boss during post-match media duties, made clear exactly what he had said. He clarified (see the video below):
“In my view, the referee was not in control of the game. I told him. I’m not sure what it is, but it affects both teams. It’s what it is, listen. After making a point, we move on.
"We all know this is their cup final."
Virgil van Dijk reacts to Liverpool's draw at Goodison Park 🗣
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Despite being one of the most seasoned referees in English football, Oliver’s midweek performance is expected to draw harsh criticism from both sides of the Merseyside divide. Conor Bradley may have been lucky to escape a second booking after catching Doucoure before to being substituted, while Everton may not have been given the free-kick that resulted in Beto’s first goal.
The good news for Liverpool is that they continue to lead the Premier League by a wide margin. However, a seven-point lead no longer feels completely solid as it once did with 14 games left, including important matches against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Everton’s return trip to Anfield.
