The dramatic conclusion to the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park has been further illuminated by an expert lip-reader, who has shed light on what exactly transpired between Liverpool manager Arne Slot and referee Michael Oliver.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, culminating in a mass brawl that resulted in four red cards. According to Jeremy Freeman, an expert lip-reader, Slot approached Oliver after the final whistle and complimented him with a two-word phrase: “Great game.”
However, this remark was interpreted as sarcasm by Oliver, leading to Slot being shown a red card. A visibly surprised Slot responded with skepticism: “Sure, you give me a red for that? I will check it out for later… me and you yeah?”
Virgil van Dijk intervened in an attempt to diffuse tensions. He addressed Oliver saying: “Hey Michael… that was not a pull [of your arm]… Michael… it isn’t personal.”
This suggests that Van Dijk believed the red card might have been due to an aggressive handshake rather than verbal abuse. Despite initial reports suggesting Slot could face disciplinary action for alleged abusive language, it appears that his dismissal involved both comments made during separate exchanges with Oliver post-match.
The Premier League subsequently retracted statements regarding potential penalties for offensive language. In another exchange captured by Freeman’s analysis, Van Dijk attempted to calm his teammates while also reassuring Oliver again that there were no personal intentions behind their actions.
Meanwhile, Reds assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff was also dismissed after heatedly disputing Everton’s late equalizer. The intense atmosphere at Goodison Park reached its peak following James Tarkowski’s dramatic goal in stoppage time—a moment initially marred by VAR review delays before erupting into jubilation upon confirmation.
This version maintains focus on the key interactions analyzed by Jeremy Freeman while providing context about the chaotic events surrounding them.