LIVERPOOL captain Virgil van Dijk belittled Everton with a cheeky dig following the Merseyside derby.
The Dutch defender took aim at Everton and Abdoulaye Doucoure after a full-time bust up took place at Goodison Park.
Everton equalised late in stoppage time to salvage a point in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before The Toffees move into their new stadium in the summer.
James Tarkowski’s equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time caused tension after five extra minutes were initially awarded in the 90th minute.
The drama boiled over once the full-time whistle was blown with players from both sides clashing as Everton celebrated a draw.
Doucoure and Curtis Jones were both shown red cards for their part in the post match clash.
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Arne Slot was also sent off after words with Michael Oliver at full-time, along with his assistant Sipke Hulshoff.
Speaking live to TNT Sports in a post match interview a frustrated Van Dijk said: “We all know this is their cup final”, suggesting that the match was the biggest of Everton’s season.
While Van Dijk’s comments may have ruffled some feathers, it was a huge game for Everton as the final Merseyside derby at their famous ground.
The occasion saw fans swarming the streets with banners before kick off and produced one of the best derby day atmospheres in recent memory that exploded when Tarkowski equalised.
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Van Dijk continued: “A lot of battles. Very disappointing to concede in the last second of the game, or even over extra time, but it is what it is.
“It isn’t easy to accept it, especially in the manner how, but we take it and move on.
“I think the referee had a big part in the game today in terms of certain challenges were given as fouls and similar weren’t.”
Speaking on the post match incident involving his teammate, Van Dijk added: “I think Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans, I think, that’s what I saw.
“Curtis didn’t think that was the right thing to do and then obviously you know what happens when there is a little tussle.”
The result meant Liverpool couldn’t take full advantage of their game in hand over second place Arsenal, but they still sit seven points ahead of the Gunners.
As for Everton, David Moyes’ unbeaten streak in the league extends to four games with the point moving them up to 15th and ten points clear of the relegation zone.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
