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What David Moyes and Arne Slot said about ugly full-time scenes after Everton and Liverpool drama
Matt C Jones
4 – 5 minutes
The previous derby at Goodison Park ended in a 2-2 draw – and ended in controversial and dramatic circumstances
Moyes and Slot (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
With the international break and FA Cup fixtures in recent weeks, the wait for this Merseyside derby has felt like an eternity. Yet the previous clash between Everton and Liverpool, along with the ill-tempered scenes that followed, still feel vivid in the memory.
In the final fixture of its kind to be played at Goodison Park, Everton snatched a last-gasp draw against the Reds thanks to a thunderous James Tarkowski volley in the 98th minute. Beto had given the Blues an early lead before goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah turned the match around for the Reds.
After Everton’s dramatic equaliser, Abdoulaye Doucoure goaded the visiting supporters and sparked an angry reaction from Curtis Jones. Both players were sent off, before Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was also given a red card after he complained to Michael Oliver about the officiating.
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Slot was seemingly unhappy that Everton’s late goal was allowed to stand after Beto put his hands on Ibrahima Konate in the penalty area, as well as the amount of time added. The red card for the Dutchman meant that nobody was on hand to fulfil Liverpool’s post-match media duties – his assistant Sipke Hulshoff was also sent off after the final whistle.
It meant there was a wait to hear from Slot on the chaotic scenes. By that point, the Dutchman had retained some of his typically calm demeanour.
Arne Slot on Liverpool’s win at PSG
Arne Slot on Liverpool’s win at PSG
“What happened was the extra time additional five times it ended up being eight, the emotions got the better of me,” he said. “If I could do that differently, I am hoping to do it differently next time as well.
“The players really stood up in a positive way. Mentally being so strong in those circumstances.
“If you don’t play your best game and part of our gameplan was to prevent them putting balls into our box but that’s hard when you concede 20 free-kicks.
“Apart from the first goal we conceded from a free-kick, I felt we defended that really well. Players showed they are more than just 11 quality players, they have great mentality in the most difficult of circumstances we have played in so far (under him).”
While it was Slot’s first experience of a Merseyside derby, David Moyes has overseen plenty down the years, so it was perhaps no great surprise to see the Scot retain a little more composure amid the wild scenes.
Speaking at his own press conference days after the game, Moyes gave a classy assessment of how things played out.
“I actually feel a little bit for Arne Slot,” he said. “When I was a younger manager I was always getting involved in heated things.
“But it also tells me a little bit he cares a lot about his club and he’s fighting for his players. Everybody has to do what they have to do and he was doing that for his team.
“I’ve had plenty of moments, let me tell you, that I’m not proud of. But we all have to fight for our own team.”
With both managers doing a stellar job for their respective sides this season, the kind words will no doubt continue when they face the media again on Tuesday before the following day’s fixture.
But once the players cross the line and tempers flare on the pitch, it would be no great shock to see that extend to the touchline again too.
