Online Reporter
THE final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended in chaos as a mass brawl erupted on the field – with even Arne Slot seeing red.
James Tarkowski netted a dramatic equaliser in the eighth minute of added time for Everton, levelling the game at 2-2.
Slot’s Liverpool were denied the chance to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points.
And tempers flared after the final whistle, with Curtis Jones in the middle of a huge fracas.
Police and stewards were seen intervening to get between the players, as Jones tussled with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Doucoure appeared to celebrate Everton’s late equaliser in front of the travelling support, with an incensed Jones confronting him.
Many other players then piled in.
Jones and Doucoure had already picked up bookings in what was a bad-tempered encounter. They were booked again for their confrontation by ref Michael Oliver, resulting in a red card for both.
Tempers appeared to be cooling as Everton players crossed the field to celebrate with their fans.
But Slot wasn’t done — and promptly saw red after clashing with ref Oliver and appearing to hold on to his hand in a bizarre handshake.
He was immediately shown a straight red, despite the protests of Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk.
It will mean Slot will be banned from the touchline when Liverpool host Wolves at Anfield this weekend, although the Reds could appeal the decision.
Jones will also be suspended.
Reds assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff was also given his marching orders after arguing with the officials about Everton’s equaliser.
Everton began an emotional night brilliantly, with Beto giving the Toffees a deserved early lead.
But Liverpool hit back through Alexis MacAllister and Mo Salah, with the three points looking set to head back across Stanley Park.
Tarkowski was sent forward by David Moyes in the final seconds of the game to try and rescue a point for the Toffees.
And the centre-back thundered in a stunning strike on the volley to take the roof off at Goodison.
It capped a memorable night in which Liverpool fans cheekily trolled their neighbours from the away end.
There was also a serious looking injury for Iliman Ndiaye who left the pitch in tears in the first half.
Meanwhile, it felt like a victory to Everton boss David Moyes and the Toffees faithful, who serenaded their squad long after the final whistle.
“I think the night was made for something to happen,” said Moyes, whose team are unbeaten in their last four league games. “It wasn’t the greatest, it wasn’t the cleanest game of football you’ve ever watched, bit scrappy on both sides. It was a bit of an old-fashioned throwback in some ways.
“Mental probably sums it up. A brilliant finish for us, to finish the last Goodison Merseyside derby and score in the last minute is in a way fitting.”
Liverpool boss Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown reds, meaning neither were permitted to speak to TV after the game or attend a post-game press conference.
The stadium exploded after a lengthy VAR check for offside allowed Tarkowski’s goal to stand.
“The bit after the game, it’s not the things you really talk about,” Moyes said. “But the place was boiling hot all night, emotional, incredible atmosphere inside the stadium.
The stadium was at fever pitch. You could see what it meant to supporters at the end of the game, the crowd was rocking. It was one of the big nights.” — Sun/Reuters.
Mathew Masinge