![Van Dijk says referee Oliver ‘lost control’ of Merseyside derby](https://nbdsport.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/rB8CLF1hHy2AWL55AAm0BGPys88585-800x500.png)
Virgil van Dijk hit Michael Oliver's performance after Liverpool with Everton in Goodison Park with Everton and said that the referee lost control of the game.
Liverpool had the opportunity to make nine points from Premier League title Rivals Arsenal in the 120th and last Merseyside Derby that is held in Everton's Goodison Park Home.
They looked exactly to do that when Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah scored to turn the game upside down, after Beto's early opener for Everton.
However, there was an eight -minute twist in the stop time when James Tarkowski scored with a crashing volley, a point for Everton grabbed while Liverpool's calling for an error in Ibrahima Konate fell on deaf ears.
Liverpool also felt that Idrissa Gueye was lucky to avoid a second yellow card in the first half, although Everton had similar feelings about Conor Bradley in the second period.
After the game spoken with TNTport, Van Dijk suggested that Oliver's officer had not been inconsistent when he said: “It was intense, it would always be intense.
“It is disappointing to lose in the last second of the game or even about extra time. It is not easy to accept it, especially the way it came … but we take it and continue.
“It was more than extra time. I think the referee today had a major role in the game in terms of certain challenges were not a mistake and similar waged.
“It was disappointing to admit – a great strike – but very disappointing.”
However, Liverpool was far from their fairly flowing best and could have few complaints about the result.
They only gathered six shots from Everton's 10, and also lost the expected goals (XG) Vecht 0.98 to 0.65.
Asked what Everton did to derive the Reds, Van Dijk said: “The same things they always do – go very directly and fight for the second and third ball.
“This is their cup final and will try to make it difficult. We saw it last season, how difficult they made it, and this year they scored. It is a boost for them, a blow to us.”
There was more drama after the full -time whistle when Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated for the traveling fans of Liverpool, with a Fracas with Curtis Jones.
Both midfielders were shown red cards after the incident, while Liverpool -Baas Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff also saw Red after he had argued with Oliver.
“They have the right to celebrate the goal, but Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis thought that wasn't good to do. Then there was a struggle,” said Van Dijk.
“The referee did not have the game under control, I told him. It's a factor. Both teams had to do with it.”
Liverpool will be in action again against Wolves on Sunday, although Arsenal could reduce their lead in the title race to four points when they visit Leicester City the day before.
Comments