Virgil van Dijk slammed Michael Oliver's performance after Liverpool drew 2-2 with Everton at Goodison Park, saying the referee lost control of the game.

Liverpool had the chance to go nine points clear of Premier League title rivals Arsenal in the 120th and final Merseyside derby to be held at Everton's Goodison Park home.

They looked set to do exactly that when Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah scored to flip the game on its head, following Beto's early opener for Everton.

However, there was a twist eight minutes into stoppage time as James Tarkowski scored with a crashing volley, snatching a point for Everton as Liverpool's appeals for a foul on Ibrahima Konate fell on deaf ears.

Liverpool also felt Idrissa Gueye was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card in the first half, though Everton had similar feelings about Conor Bradley in the second period.  

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Van Dijk suggested Oliver's officiating had been inconsistent as he said: "It was intense, it was always going to be intense. 

"It's disappointing to lose in the last second of the game or even over extra time. It isn't easy to accept it, especially in the manner it came... but we take it and move on.

"It was over extra time. I think the referee had a big part in the game today in terms of certain challenges were given as a foul and similar ones weren't. 

"It was disappointing to concede – a great strike – but very disappointing."

Liverpool were far from their free-flowing best, though, and could have few complaints about the result.

They mustered just six shots to Everton's 10, also losing the expected goals (xG) battle 0.98 to 0.65.

Asked what Everton did to unsettle the Reds, Van Dijk said: "The same things they always do – go very direct and fight for the second and third ball. 

"This is their cup final and will try and make it difficult. We saw it last season, how difficult they made it, and this year they scored in the end. It's a boost for them, a blow for us."

There was more drama after the full-time whistle as Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated in front of Liverpool's travelling fans, sparking a fracas involving Curtis Jones.

Both midfielders were shown red cards following the incident, while Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff also saw red after arguing with Oliver.

"They are entitled to celebrate the goal but Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis thought that wasn't the right thing to do. Then there was a tussle," Van Dijk said. 

"The referee didn't have the game under control, I said that to him. It is a factor. Both teams had to deal with it."

Liverpool are back in action against Wolves on Sunday, though Arsenal could cut their lead in the title race to four points when they visit Leicester City one day earlier.