Van Dijk Furious As Everton’s Late Goal Stuns Liverpool In Merseyside Derby

Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, said Everton’s 98th-minute equalizer to salvage a 2-2 draw was hard to take as the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended in a flurry of red cards on Wednesday.

James Tarkowski scored a breathtaking equalizer in the dying moments of stoppage time, igniting ecstatic celebrations among the Everton supporters, with some even rushing onto the pitch.

Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure then sparked a melee by celebrating in front of the Liverpool fans at full-time.

Doucoure and Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones were sent off before the Reds’ manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown red cards for their protests towards referee Michael Oliver.

A draw edges Liverpool seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, while Everton move 10 points above the relegation zone in 15th.

“It was always going to be intense,” said Van Dijk.

“Very disappointing to concede in the last second of the game, or even over extra time, but it is what it is. It isn’t easy to accept it, especially in the manner of how, but we take it and move on.

“I think the referee had a big part in the game today in terms of certain challenges were given as fouls and similar weren’t. In the end, it is just disappointing to concede a very good strike, but a disappointing one.

“This is their cup final and they would try to do everything in their power to make it difficult for us. It is a big boost for them but a blow for us.”

Everton is preparing to relocate to a new stadium with a capacity of 53,000 next season, and Goodison Park received a passionate farewell during the recent matchup between the two teams, whose stadiums are located less than a mile apart.

“It was mayhem all game,” said Everton boss David Moyes. “It was an old-fashioned throwback in some ways.

“I think it was hugely important that Evertonians get to finish as best they can in this stadium.

“Overall the support in here was unbelievable tonight. Incredible support and it was fitting they got the ending that they did.”

Everton fans have grown tired of living in Liverpool’s shadow in recent decades.

They were reminded of a 30-year drought without a trophy by 30 balloons among the visiting support.

Moyes returned for his second spell in charge last month and said restoring the nine-time English champions to their former glories is his goal.

“We want to get back to being a big club again,” added the former Manchester United boss.

“We’ve got a long way to go, we’ve got a job to do first of all this year to be a Premier League club and then kick on.”