A professional lip reader believes they have ascertained what Virgil van Dijk said to referee Michael Oliver during Liverpool’s explosive draw against Everton.
Arne Slot’s side missed out on an opportunity to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, after James Tarkowski’s unstoppable volley secured a 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. At the end of the match, an almighty melee broke out between both sets of players and ended with red cards being shown to Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones.
However, Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown red cards for their behaviour. Out of everybody, the coolest person on the pitch appeared to be the always calm and collected Van Dijk.
After the match, while Liverpool and Everton players were fighting amongst themselves, Van Dijk was seen speaking to the officials. Respected lip reader Jeremy Green believes he knows what Van Dijk said to Oliver and Slot.
As Slot was shown the red card for appearing to shake Oliver’s hand too aggressively, Green believes Van Dijk turned to the official and said: “Hey…Michael…that was not a pull… Michael…it isn’t personal…Michael…it isn’t personal…hey!”
The Dutchman then turned to his manager, who was wide eyed with fury, strutting towards Oliver at the time, and told him to: “Keep away.”
Due to the red card, Slot was not able to speak to the press and carry out his post-match interview as usual. Instead, Van Dijk, as the Liverpool captain, spoke to the media and said: “We all know this is their cup final and they will do everything in their power to try and win against us.
“This year, you see them scoring at the end and it’s obviously a big boost for them but it’s a blow for us. We all saw how they celebrated a goal, they have all the right to, but I think Doucoure in the end wanted to provoke our fans from what I saw and Curtis didn’t think that was the right thing to do.
“Obviously, you know what happens when there is a little tussle, but I didn’t think the ref had the game under control, I said that to him.”
The fireworks between the two sides were lit when Doucoure celebrated his side’s last minute equaliser in front of the furious and emotional Liverpool away supporters. Jones did not take exception to the Frenchman’s antics and immediately ran over and started pushing him.
As players from both sides stormed in to back up their team-mates, Oliver showed the red card to Jones and Doucoure. Liverpool were furious with the nature of the equaliser, as they believe Toffees’ forward Beto had shoved Ibrahima Konate in the build-up.
Despite a tense VAR review checking a potential offside and the foul, the goal was awarded, sparking more rapturous celebrations within Goodison Park. Liverpool will be without Jones and Slot for their home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.
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