Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot was among four individuals dismissed following an intense conclusion to the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
A brawl erupted when Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated in front of the Liverpool supporters after James Tarkowski’s last-minute equalizer, which occurred during the eighth minute of stoppage time in the tense 2-2 draw.

Local player Curtis Jones, who was a substitute for Liverpool, confronted Doucoure over his behavior, resulting in him grabbing Doucoure and igniting a chaotic scene that involved players, coaching staff, security personnel, and even police officers amid the commotion.

Once order was restored, both Doucoure and Jones received their second yellow cards from referee Michael Oliver, leading to their dismissals. Slot then received a straight red card after reportedly shaking Oliver’s hand in a firm manner, while Slot’s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, also got sent off.

This incident marked a fitting conclusion to the 120th and final Merseyside derby held at Goodison Park, as Everton will transition to a new stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront next season.
The rivalry has already seen 23 red cards issued in Premier League matches between the two teams, more than any other pairing, and now four additional dismissals have been added to that total.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk commented on the altercation, highlighting a specific player’s provocative actions, referring to Doucoure’s celebration. “We all witnessed it and reacted as a team. You know how it goes these days; it quickly escalates into a scuffle,” he noted.

Everton’s manager David Moyes acknowledged that the match wasn’t particularly well-played. “It wasn’t the cleanest game you’ve ever seen; it felt like a throwback,” he remarked.