Virgil van Dijk accuses referee Michael Oliver of ‘not controlling the game’ after DRAMATIC Merseyside derby | OneFootball

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says he told referee Michael Oliver that he did not have control of the game after his side’s 2-2 draw with Everton.

Liverpool thought they had secured a 2-1 win in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park but James Tarkowski struck a spectacular stoppage-time volley to secure a point for David Moyes’ men.

The Toffees had taken an early lead through Beto before goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah put the Premier League leaders in front, but Tarkowski’s late equaliser ensured the points were shared.

After the game, a post-match melee ensued which saw four sent off – Abdoulaye Doucoure, Curtis Jones, Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff.

Jones appeared to be angered by Doucoure’s celebrations in front of the Liverpool fans.

And speaking to TNT Sports after the game, van Dijk claimed the referee needed to do a better job and gave his thoughts on the post-match drama.

“You saw how they celebrated the goal and they have all the right to,” he said.

“But I think Doucoure in the end wanted to provoke our fans, that is what I saw, and Curtis didn’t think that was the right thing to do.

“Then obviously you know what happens when there is a little tussle or whatever you want to call it.

“I think the ref didn’t have the game under control in my opinion. I said it to him.

“It did affect (the game) and both teams had to deal with it. It is what it is so we take a point and move on.”

Tarkowski’s goal was given after a lengthy VAR check, first for a possible offside and then for a potential foul, before it was awarded.

But van Dijk was unhappy with the manner of the goal.

“It’s not easy to accept it especially in this manner,” he continued.

“But we take it and we move on.

“I think it was over extra time. I think the referee had a big part in the game today in terms of certain challenges being given as fouls and similar weren’t.”