Virgil van Dijk criticised Michael Oliver’s performance following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park, stating that the referee had lost control of the match. The game was crucial for Liverpool as they had the opportunity to extend their lead over Arsenal by nine points in the Premier League title race.
Despite going behind early on with Beto’s goal, Liverpool managed to turn the game around with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah. However, a late equaliser from James Tarkowski denied them the three points as their appeals for a foul on Ibrahima Konate were ignored. Van Dijk also expressed his frustration with Oliver’s inconsistent officiating, stating that some challenges were deemed as fouls while others were not.
Liverpool were not at their best and could not argue with the final result, as they had fewer attempts on goal and lost the expected goals battle. When asked about what Everton did to cause problems for Liverpool, Van Dijk mentioned their direct approach and their determination to win second and third balls. He also acknowledged that Everton’s victory was a boost for them and a blow for Liverpool.
The match ended in more chaos as Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated in front of Liverpool’s fans, resulting in a scuffle involving Curtis Jones. Both players were shown red cards, and even Liverpool’s manager and assistant were sent off for arguing with Oliver. Van Dijk criticised the referee’s lack of control over the game and believed it played a part in the incident. He also stated that both teams had to deal with the situation.
