Everton manager David Moyes has delivered a brutally honest assessment on Abdoulaye Doucoure’s red card at the end of the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, as well as his thoughts on the Goodison Park crowd.
The Toffees and Reds drew 2-2 in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. It was a classic feisty Merseyside derby, with both teams going at it, and four red cards were issued at the end of the game.
After James Tarkowski equalised in the eighth minute of injury time, Doucoure mocked Liverpool fans, prompting Curtis Jones to attack the Everton defender.
The Liverpool and Everton players clashed, and Doucoure and Jones were finally sent off.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also fired after the final whistle, with the Reds claiming Tarkowski’s goal should have been ruled out for a shove in the build-up.
Everton manager Moyes spoke after the match, saying he was disappointed to see Doucoure sent off and complimented the Goodison Park crowd.
When asked about the clashes after the final whistle, Moyes said: “It was mayhem all game. It was a bit of an old-fashioned throwback.”
“The bit after the game, I could tell you about it but the truth is it’s not really what we should be talking about.
“What I do know is Doucoure got a yellow that led to a red which I am disappointed with as we are short of players.
“The place was boiling hot all night, emotional, it was an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium.”
Virgil van Dijk takes aim at Abdoulaye Doucoure
Doucoure thoroughly enjoyed Everton’s draw with Liverpool. With the Reds aiming to win the Premier League title this season, it was a point well-earned for the Toffees.
Not only did Doucoure mock the Liverpool fans after Everton’s equaliser, but he also gestured toward the visiting team’s central defender Virgil van Dijk.
The Mali international was seen laughing at Van Dijk when he was protesting to referee Michael Oliver and was even gesturing to the Dutchman to be quiet.
Van Dijk later spoke to TNT Sports and slammed Doucoure, while taking a dig at Everton too.
The Liverpool defender said: “We saw how they celebrated the goal, they have all the right to.
“I think Abdoulaye Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans, I think that is what I saw and Curtis Jones didn’t think it was the right thing to do. And then you know what happens if there is a little tussle.
“I didn’t think the referee had the game under control. Both teams had to deal with it. This was their cup final.
“I think the referee had a big part in the game, in terms of certain challenges were given as fouls and similar weren’t.”
