The Premier League have confirmed that four red cards were shown by Michael Oliver after the full-time whistle as the last-ever Merseyside derby to be held at Goodison Park finished in utter chaos.
Tempers flared badly on the pitch following James Tarkowski’s dramatic 98th-minute goal that secured a last-gasp point for resurgent Everton against fierce rivals Liverpool on Wednesday night, with an ugly scrap between both sets of players sparked by a furious melee involving midfielders Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Jones appeared to take exception to Doucoure celebrating Everton’s late equaliser in front of the travelling Liverpool fans as he sprinted over to confront him, with both players then involved in an angry bust-up that saw them each receive second yellow cards and then reds from referee Oliver as police and stadium security intervened to restore order and a bottle appeared to be thrown from the stands.
Liverpool were seething that Tarkowski’s powerful back-post volley - which stood after a long VAR check mostly centred on a possible offside - was not ruled out for a challenge by Beto on Ibrahima Konate, leading to furious protests from manager Arne Slot, who was then shown a straight red card by Oliver after the second yellows for Jones and Doucoure.
The Premier League’s Match Centre have now confirmed that Slot’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff was also given his marching orders as chaos reigned during a stormy finish to proceedings at Goodison, where some home fans had spilled onto the pitch after Tarkowski’s goal.
“The referee issued second yellow cards and red cards to Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure following an altercation after the final whistle,” they said in a statement.
“Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown straight red cards after the final whistle.”
Liverpool - now seven points clear of title rivals Arsenal at the Premier League summit after their game in hand - will now be without Jones for Sunday’s visit of Wolves to Anfield, while Slot and No2 Hulshoff each look set to serve one-match touchline bans, which would presumably see the team led by assistant coach - and former Everton defender - John Heitinga this weekend.
Neither Slot nor Hulshoff were permitted by Premier League rules to address the media after Wednesday’s game due to their dismissals, resulting in Liverpool cancelling their post-match press conference altogether.
Doucoure, meanwhile, will miss Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, a further unwanted absence for an Everton side who are already dealing with a long injury list that now includes Iliman Ndiaye after the in-form forward limped off in tears in the first half against Liverpool.
