Exclusive: Michael Oliver actions caused Arne Slot’s Liverpool red card at Everton
Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s red card against Everton was in part caused by what referee Michael Oliver did at full time in that game, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the officials made sending off the Reds boss more likely by remaining on the pitch after the match was over.
Both teams played their part in a thrilling encounter in what was the last ever Merseyside derby to be held at Goodison Park on Wednesday night (12 February).
Everton contentiously took the lead against Liverpool through Beto, before the visitors turned things around to go 2-1 ahead after goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah.
Deep into second half stoppage time though, a stunning volley from James Tarkowski snatched a point for David Moyes’ side by securing a 2-2 draw.
Liverpool were left furious that Everton avoided punishment over what they felt were fouls – including one on Salah by Charly Alcaraz – in the build-up to that equaliser.
Arne Slot facing punishment after Merseyside derby
The Toffees’ late leveller for would lead to yet more drama after full-time, which was started when Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated in front of the visiting supporters.
That led to an angry reaction from Liverpool ace Curtis Jones which sparked a brawl between individuals from both sides, with both instigators being sent off.
There would be more red cards to come though, with Oliver remaining on the pitch once that scuffle had died down.
He was then approached by Slot, but after shaking hands with the referee, Oliver showed the Liverpool manager and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, red cards, leaving both facing touchline bans.
Hackett though, believes Oliver is at least partly at fault for those dismissals because he remained on the pitch and open to confrontation, rather than heading to the dressing room to let things settle down.
Michael Oliver blasted over two Liverpool red cards
Speaking to Football Insider about the sendings off of Slot and Hulshoff, the former referee said:
“I find it difficult to understand why the referee and his two colleagues, at the end of a Premier League game, have to stand in the middle and watch things happening around them, instead of moving towards the dressing room.
“On this occasion, sadly, the fact that he did stand there was a contributing factor I think towards the Liverpool manager and his assistant obviously saying something out of turn which resulted in them both receiving red cards.
“So out of a game that was highly-entertaining and charged, as normal, with great football, we’re talking about the result at the end of the game and the consequence of four red cards issued by Michael Oliver.
“I would hope that Michael Oliver and the PGMOL will review the end of this particular game and determine what they can learn from it.
“My view is very clear, and that is if Oliver and his two colleagues headed off towards the dressing rooms I think this would have avoided any confrontation from the Liverpool manager and his assistants.
“I still feel that in a game with so much tension that the referee ought to have remained a little calm and maybe that would have avoided having to pull out the red cards for these two that were clearly complaining.”
Liverpool are next in action when they host Wolves in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday afternoon (16 February).