'Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans' - Van Dijk on Goodison 'mayhem'

A mass confrontation broke out at Goodison Park shortly after James Tarkowski's equaliser

Virgil van Dijk accused Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure of provoking Liverpool fans after a fiery Merseyside derby descended into chaos following James Tarkowski's late equaliser.

The Reds were leading 2-1 and heading nine points clear at the top of the Premier League before Tarkowski struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time to provide a dramatic, memorable ending to the last derby at Goodison Park.

Doucoure was then seen celebrating in front of the Liverpool fans, prompting a shove from Curtis Jones and a mass confrontation between players from both sides.

Both Doucoure and Jones were sent off for second yellow cards by referee Michael Oliver, while Reds boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff also saw red.

"We saw how they celebrated the goal, they have all the right to," Reds captain Van Dijk told TNT Sports.

"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."

What happened at the end?

Following Tarkowski's late equaliser with a superb finish, Doucoure went over towards the away fans and was caught on television cameras making a shushing gesture.

He was confronted by Liverpool substitute Jones, before a large tussle between both sets of players broke out, while a bottle was seen to be thrown at the group.

It was eventually broken up by stewards and, afterwards, referee Oliver showed second yellow cards to both Doucoure and Jones.

The drama was not over, however, as Liverpool boss Slot and his assistant Hulshoff were shown straight red cards after trying to make their feelings known to the officials.

Slot had been seen moments after Tarkowski's equalising gesticulating to suggest there had been a foul in the build-up to the goal.

Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman said it was "silly" of Doucoure to antagonise the Liverpool fans.

"Abdoulaye Doucoure had 37,000 of his own fans to go and celebrate in front of," he told TNT Sports.

"To go and antagonise the Liverpool fans was a silly decision. It was only going to end one way."

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand added: "Going against opposition fans I don't think is wrong. The difference is when it is a local derby, you don't like them but there is a respect and you know there is a torch paper that will be lit.

"Other games you can do that because it is a bit of banter. Sometimes it is emotions. Mario Balotelli did this with the Man Utd fans once and I was incensed and we got into a melee so I can understand why Curtis Jones did what he did."

Meanwhile, Everton boss David Moyes was left frustrated that he will lose Doucoure to suspension for Saturday's game at Crystal Palace.

"I didn't see it from where I was," said the Scot, whose side moved level on points with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham and 10 clear of the relegation zone.

"I have had a chance to see it and I'm disappointed because Doucoure played really well and I'm going to now lose him because he's got a second yellow card which turned into a red.

"The emotions were running high here all night, the stadium was at fever pitch. It was mayhem. 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."