'Lighting the touchpaper' – Rio Ferdinand says Abdoulaye Doucoure's celebration crossed the line in Merseyside derby
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Updated 13/02/2025 at 07:33 GMT
There was a fiery end to a dramatic Merseyside derby when Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated a late equaliser in front of the Liverpool fans to spark a brawl. Doucoure and Curtis Jones, who reacted angrily, were both sent off, and the TNT Sports team gave their thoughts. Rio Ferdinand said it risked "lighting the touchpaper", while Phil Jagielka could "not defend" their actions.
Furious scrap after final whistle sees Jones and Doucoure sent off
Video credit: TNT Sports
Rio Ferdinand says Abdoulaye Doucoure risked "lighting the touchpaper" by celebrating Everton’s late equaliser in front of the Liverpool fans in a moment that sparked a flurry of red cards.
James Tarkowski scored a stunning last-gasp leveller to earn his side a 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby to be staged at Goodison Park.
But a melee soon erupted when Everton midfielder Doucoure ran over to the visiting fans, sparking a furious reaction from Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, and both players were promptly sent off.
The TNT Sports panel of Ferdinand, Steve McManaman and Phil Jagielka discussed how events unfolded in a fiery end to a dramatic derby.
"You can’t really defend what they have done," said Jagielka.
"There’s a lot of emotion gone into the game, Doucoure is very happy to get the equaliser, Curtis is a local lad, he’s gone to defend his team, and as it stands both teams are without a player come the weekend."
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'He was incensed' - Ferdinand, McManaman and Jagielka on post-match scenes as three see red
Video credit: TNT Sports
When Ferdinand suggested that going against opposing fans isn’t always the wrong thing to do, Jagielka said: "The abuse sometimes they give you, it’s a one-way street.
"So I agree with you sometimes, Rio, as long as you’re not going to start a riot. The fact of the matter is, it’s a local derby."
Ferdinand replied: "That’s the problem. The difference is when it’s a local derby, you don’t like them.
"But there’s a respect, that you know you’re lighting the touchpaper if you go over near them.
"That’s what happened today and that’s where you draw the line. Other games you can do that and it’s a bit of banter, but this is a Merseyside derby."
McManaman was left perplexed by Doucoure’s actions, as the midfielder will now be suspended during a key run of games for his club.
"The thing is he’s got 37,000 of his own fans to clap and cheer and celebrate with," said McManaman.
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Highlights: Tarkowski strikes late as Jones, Doucoure and Slot see red in post-match chaos
Video credit: TNT Sports
"To go over and antagonise, it was only going to end one way. You always know something negative is going to come out of it. He played well today, but they’ve lost him now for the next game. If they go and lose now the next game, what a stupid decision."
Ferdinand replied: "I get that, but sometimes it’s emotion. You want maturity but sometimes when it means so much – and it’s the last game here as a derby – that emotion does overflow.
"I was in a situation where (Mario) Balotelli did this with the Man Utd fans at Wembley and I was incensed, I ran over and we got into a bit of a melee. So I understand what Curtis Jones is thinking and feeling in that moment."
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Tarkowski slams home last-gasp equaliser as Everton fans pour onto pitch
Video credit: TNT Sports
Liverpool manager Arne Slot soon joined Jones and Doucoure in being sent off by referee Michael Oliver after the full-time whistle was blown.
McManaman was unimpressed by the officiating of a frenetic game, where six yellow cards were shown before the late drama kicked off.
"(Slot) was incensed with the equaliser, he thought it was a foul," said the former Liverpool winger.
"I do think Michael Oliver lost control of the game today, I really do. A lot of the second yellows and red cards were just, but I didn’t think he had a firm grasp of the game today, the occasion, the magnitude, how aggressive it was going to be. I did think he lost a little bit of control."
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