Everton manager David Moyes has voiced sympathy for Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot over his controversial red card following the final Merseyside derby at the Toffees’ Goodison Park home on Monday.
After James Tarkowski earned Everton a 2-2 draw in the 98th minute with a strike that was reviewed for offside and a potential foul on Reds defender Ibrahima Konate, Slot was clearly stunned to receive a red card from Michael Oliver when he approached the referee on the pitch and exchanged a handshake.
“I actually feel a bit for Arne Slot, because… when I was a younger manager, I was always getting involved in heated things,” said Moyes, who is 15 years older than the Premier League newcomer.
“It tells me he cares a lot about his club and he’s fighting for his players. Everybody has to do what they do and he was doing that for his team. It was an emotional night for everybody.
“When you get a bit older, you stand back and say ‘what was I doing there?’ I’ve had plenty of moments and lots that I’m not proud of, but we all have to fight our own corner.”
Another angle of Arne Slot’s red card tonight…
What did he say to Michael Oliver 🤝 pic.twitter.com/qzR376WKUw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 12, 2025
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Palace vs Everton: Toffees talk ‘positive’
Moyes has guided Everton to 10 points from five league matches since returning for a second spell on January 11, lifting them closer to ninth place than the relegation zone before they visit in-form Crystal Palace on Saturday (5.30pm GMT).
Liverpool would have gone nine points clear at the top of the table with victory in the derby, but Beto gave Everton an 11th-minute lead courtesy of a clever free-kick routine before Tarkowski smashed in a last-gasp leveller as part of a dramatic finish that included the dismissals of Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure after the final whistle.
“Over recent years, everybody’s brought Everton back down to earth,” said Moyes, adding that Iliman Ndiaye will be out for “a few weeks” through injury.
“Why don’t we just try to keep Everton high for a wee while? Isn’t it great that there’s positive talk about Everton, for a change?
“We’re suddenly getting great support, people behind us. We’ve not played as many games as most teams because we’re not in Europe yet. The plan is to find that we’ve got more games in the future.”
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Moyes Everton record
Everton qualified for Europe four times during Moyes’ first spell at the club between 2002 and 2013, achieving eight top-seven finishes and finishing fourth in 2004/05.
He was reappointed in one of the first major decisions made by new owners The Friedkin Group, who completed their takeover in December and will lead Everton to their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
They last played in Europe in 2017/18, progressing through two qualifying rounds before exiting the Europa League in the group stage.
