Gabriel Agbonlahor says he’s started noticing something about Michael Oliver after Everton vs Liverpool display

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There was no lack of controversy during Liverpool’s draw with Everton on Wednesday night.

The Reds saw victory snatched away from them at the death as a 98th-minute James Tarkowski stunner earned Everton a draw to create a fitting end to the last Merseyside Derby to ever be played at Goodison Park.

The result leaves Liverpool seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League but fans of the Reds will feel that they deserved a win against their city rivals.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	24	17	6	1	58	23	35	57
2	ArsenalArsenal	24	14	8	2	49	22	27	50
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	24	14	5	5	40	27	13	47
4	ChelseaChelsea	24	12	7	5	47	31	16	43

Ally McCoist believes Micheal Oliver got a key decision wrong in the first half as the pundit believes Alexis Mac Allister did not foul Iliman Ndiaye for the free-kick that led to Everton’s opener, which had a major impact on the result.

The TNT Sports commentator has not been the only person critical of Oliver’s performance during the Merseyside Derby as Gabriel Agbonlahor has made a big claim about the official.

• READ MORE: How Jamie Carragher reacted to James Tarkowski’s late equaliser for Everton against Liverpool

Gabriel Agbonlahor has noticed something about Michael Oliver following Liverpool controversy

Liverpool only have themselves to blame for the result at Goodison Park as the Reds stars ignored Arne Slot’s pre-match warning.

The Dutch coach’s team were drawn into a fight with Everton and that suited David Moyes’ team. However, Oliver allowed this to happen as the man in the middle seemingly lost control of a feisty Merseyside Derby.

Oliver sent off Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones after the full-time whistle after the Everton star seemingly celebrated in front of the Liverpool supporters at Goodison Park.

More controversially, Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also dismissed by Oliver, which has led Agbonlahor to the conclusion that the English official “wants to be the centre of attention”.

“Did you see he got sent off for a handshake that was too aggressive? Maybe a bit off both [the handshake and words],” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT about Slot’s red card.

When Alan Brazil brought up the point that you cannot get done for a handshake, the pundit responded with: “You don’t know with Michael Oliver. He wants to be the centre of attention, doesn’t he? So you never know.”

Oliver is viewed by many as the best referee in England but the official had a night to forget on Wednesday.

His decisions could have an impact on Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes further down the line, however, that is not a view Agbonlahor shares.

• READ MORE: Harvey Elliott makes jibe at Everton fans after final Goodison Park clash with Liverpool

Liverpool should be happy with Everton result admits Gabriel Agbonlahor

When asked if the Everton result could derail Liverpool’s title hopes, Agbonlahor shut down that suggestion quickly.

“No, not one bit, that is a tough game,” the talkSPORT pundit stated. “It is a derby game, it is a game for me Liverpool should be happy with a point.

“Everyone is saying that the title race is back on, let’s not forget Arsenal’s injury problems. Arsenal will drop more points and Liverpool will go on a run now. I still fancy Liverpool.”

Liverpool have a tough run of fixtures on the horizon against Wolves, Aston Villa, Man City and Newcastle. Should the Reds get through that, their hopes of winning the Premier League will be looking very good.

Although Arsenal’s fixtures are kinder, the Gunners have major injury issues to their forward line as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus remain out of action.

Arsenal saw Kai Havertz added to that list this week, leaving Mikel Arteta without his best front-three for the foreseeable future.