Chaos At Goodison: Liverpool And Everton Deliver A Wild Farewell | OneFootball

By Aiden Gharibian

The game ended 2–2 in the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, and it’s safe to say there was plenty of drama and controversy. Liverpool still sit seven points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table as they’ve now played their game in hand. However, Liverpool fans remain outraged for a plethora of reasons including the controversial refereeing decisions made by Michael Oliver, tensions between players, and an overall concerning performance from the Reds.

Liverpool legend John Arne Riise on Arne Slot, Champions League hopes & more | WhoScored Exclusive

Starting off with a spicy topic — Michael Oliver has faced criticism from multiple fan bases, and after tonight’s chaos, that’s not changing anytime soon. Recently, he was at the centre of controversy after sending off 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly during Arsenal’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The red card was later rescinded, confirming the decision was indeed incorrect. Today, he gave away a soft free kick to the Toffees which led to their first goal of the evening. PGMOL Chief Keith Hackett has called out this decision, saying “Liverpool were on the wrong end of a poor decision by Michael Oliver to award Everton a free kick which led to their first goal. There was no foul. Oliver got it wrong.” Funnily enough, Oliver arguably played a role in both of Everton’s goals. In stoppage time, two Everton players clashed heads, requiring a minute to recover. Despite only five minutes being added, Oliver allowed play to continue until the 98th minute — just enough time for Tarkowski to score the equalizer. It’s clear as day that Oliver won’t be escaping criticism — nor will the rest of PGMOL — as refereeing decisions and the use of VAR in this country continue to spark massive controversy..

The Redmen TV are proudly partnered with Dr. Emrah Cinik

Aside from refereeing decisions, it’s only right to speak on the overall performance. After resting most of their first-team players last weekend only to suffer a defeat against Plymouth, fans expected a much-improved performance from Liverpool today. Instead, for large parts of the match, the Reds looked flat and devoid of ideas. It’s clear to most Liverpool fans that Salah does indeed need that new contract, with attention being shifted to FSG as we’ve found ourselves in February with neither Trent Alexander Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, nor Mohamed Salah putting pen to paper to sign their new deals. Salah played a part in both Liverpool goals today and was by far Liverpool’s best player. It also remains widely apparent that Liverpool needs reinvestment this summer, as several second-choice players have struggled — not just against Plymouth, but again today against Everton. Arne Slot can’t escape criticism today either, as his side appears too relaxed, reserved, and content with narrow one-goal leads — an approach that only holds up if the lead is actually preserved.

To cap off this fiery encounter, Curtis Jones, Arne Slot, and Abdoulaye Doucoure all saw red in a heated post-match altercation. Doucoure appeared to rile up the Liverpool away end right after the match, prompting Curtis Jones to confront him — sparking a scuffle that looked more suited for a UFC octagon than a football pitch. Many players found themselves caught up in the chaos, only adding to the raw drama and entertainment that makes this derby so fierce. Arne Slot also appeared to be sent off for something he said to Michael Oliver, meaning he will be absent for some crucial upcoming matches — a blow that could impact Liverpool, as his presence on the touchline has been key this season.