Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk aims Everton dig and accuses Abdoulaye Doucoure of 'provoking' fans | OneFootball

Reds captain also critical of referee Michael Oliver after chaotic Merseyside derby ending sees four red cards brandished after the full-time whistle

Frustrated Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk took aim at Everton and referee Michael Oliver after a truly chaotic finish to Wednesday night’s pulsating Merseyside derby clash, while he accused Abdoulaye Doucoure of trying to provoke the travelling fans.

Mohamed Salah’s effort 17 minutes from time in the final-ever showdown to be held between the local rivals at Goodison Park, that came after Alexis Mac Allister’s header had earlier quickly cancelled out a strike from Beto, looked to have the Premier League leaders on course for a valuable hard-fought victory in their game in hand that would see them move nine points clear of nearest title rivals Arsenal with 14 matches left to play this season.

Tempers boiled over in wild and chaotic scenes after the full-time whistle at Goodison, with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones sprinting to confront Doucoure after the latter appeared to celebrate Everton’s equaliser in front of the away fans.

An angry bust-up ensued as both sets of players got involved in a major flashpoint that even led to police and stewards intervening to try and restore order.

Jones and Doucoure were both shown second yellow and then red cards by referee Oliver, who also sent off both Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff for their post-match protests as a total of four dismissals were racked up straight after the game.

Liverpool will now be without Jones against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday, while Slot and No2 Hulshoff will each serve one-match touchline bans, which could leave assistant and former Everton defender John Heitinga to lead the team.

Doucoure, meanwhile, will add to Everton’s already long list of absentees away at Crystal Palace on Saturday after in-form forward Iliman Ndiaye also limped off in tears in the first half against Liverpool.

Speaking after the chaos-filled end to the derby, frustrated Liverpool skipper Van Dijk told TNT Sports: “Intense, it was always going to be intense. Obviously a lot of battles. Very disappointing to concede in the last second of the game, or even over extra time, but it is what it is. It isn't easy to accept it, especially in the manner how, but we take it and move on.”

Asked how Everton had made life difficult for the leaders, the Dutchman replied: "I think they do the same things as they always do, they are very direct. Fight for the first ball, second ball.

“We all know that this is their cup final and they will try to do everything in their power to make it difficult and win. We saw it last year how difficult they made it and this year you see them scoring at the end. It is a big boost for them but a blow for us."

Pressed on the ugly scenes after the full-time whistle, Van Dijk said: “We saw how they celebrated the goal, they have all the right to.

“I think Doucoure in the end wanted to provoke our fans, I think that was what I saw and Curtis didn't think it was the right thing to do. And then you know what happens when there is a little tussle, or how you want to call it.

“I think the referee didn’t have the game under control in my opinion. I don’t know what it is. Both teams had to deal with it. Listen, it is what it is. I guess I take the point and move on.”

Speaking to Match of the Day on the fracas, Van Dijk reiterated: “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.”