The Merseyside derby was a spectacle packed with goals, controversy and high drama that left Liverpool fuming

The Reds and Everton fought out a 2-2 draw after James Tarkowski’s equaliser in the 98th minute for the Toffees. However, referee Michael Oliver’s performance drew plenty of attention too.

The final derby at Goodison Park had it all, with Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure receiving red cards after the final whistle. Reds manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, were then shown red cards for confronting Oliver.

It wasn’t Oliver’s first time in the spotlight this season, either. Mirror Football delves into the incidents that have raised eyebrows and the matches Oliver will never officiate.

In the name of impartiality, there are certain fixtures Oliver won’t handle. The Newcastle-born ref is currently considered the top official in the Premier League, but he must avoid games involving one specific club.

That’s because the 39-year-old is a supporter of the Magpies. This rule applies not just to matches featuring Eddie Howe’s side directly.

“We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club,” he once revealed to the Daily Mail. “You can’t do any match involving that team, and I can’t do Sunderland either, for obvious reasons.

“If Newcastle needed a point to survive and the team they were fighting to get above was, say, Villa, I couldn’t referee Villa’s game either. I wouldn’t want to. It’s not worth the hassle.”

Oliver has had an eventful year so far. He controversially sent off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly for a foul on Wolves‘ Matt Doherty, sparking outrage among fans and the Gunners. Oliver and his family received sickening online abuse.

The red card was overturned on appeal. Following the contentious decision, ex-PGMOL head Keith Hackett recommended that Oliver take a break from duty. He said on talkSPORT: “I’d be saying to Michael Oliver, I think you need a rest and I think you’re not going to see another game in the Premier League for a couple of weeks.”

Oliver was at the centre of the drama as Goodison hosted its last-ever derby. Beto got Everton off the mark before Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah swung things Liverpool’s way before Tarkowski had a say in spectacular fashion.

After the final whistle, Oliver issued second yellow cards to Doucoure, who had celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans, and an incensed Jones. Meanwhile, Slot and Sipke Hulshoff saw red for confronting Oliver, with Liverpool incensed at the decision not to award a foul from Beto for an alleged push on Ibrahima Konate.

The repercussions are still unfolding, despite Slot expressing regret over his actions. Initially, the Premier League announced a two-game ban for Slot, only to retract their statement later.

The FA has charged Slot for “allegedly acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee after the match had finished”.

A red card for staff does not automatically result in a touchline ban. The FA is reviewing Oliver’s report and video footage before deciding what further action to take, with touchline bans still possible punishments.

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