Liverpool legend Jan Molby reveals how he thinks Michael Oliver ‘helped’ Everton in the Merseyside derby

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Liverpool’s hopes of waving goodbye to Goodison Park with a win were given a last-minute blow by James Trakowski’s late equaliser.

In a game that was full of controversy, both Arne Slot and Curtis Jones were sent off after the final whistle, with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure also receiving his marching orders.

Former Toffee Phil Jagielka claimed Slot was right to be ‘furious’ with the referee’s decision to allow the equaliser, meanwhile, Ally McCoist claimed Michael Oliver ‘got one wrong’ after he controversially awarded the free-kick prior to Everton’s opening goal.

They however aren’t the only pundits who have honed in on Oliver’s referring performance, with ex-Reds midfielder Jan Molby also having his say.

• READ MORE: Ally McCoist blown away by what ‘excellent’ Curtis Jones did just before Mo Salah’s goal for Liverpool vs Everton

Jan Molby criticises Merseyside derby referee Michael Oliver

With five first-half bookings, it’s fair to say Oliver had his work cut out from minute one. The referee would end up giving 29 fouls in total, with 20 of those being committed by Slot’s side.

Molby believes Oliver’s tendency to blow his whistle actually played into the hands of Everton on the night.

When questioned on the amount of stoppages, Molby told the Liverpool FC Podcast:

“The key for Everton was to get the game the way they did, it was scrappy, it was physical and Liverpool had to try and step away from that and play their own game.

“Liverpool never got that kind of control over the game, where you felt as if they were going to see it out. So, yeah the referee has certainly helped the scrappiness of the game. It is not sour grapes but I just don’t think he had a great game.”

Liverpool ‘unhappy’ with stoppage time decision

Liverpool supporters would have thought they were home and dry as the minutes ticked away at Goodison Park, that however would not be the case.

Oliver would award a minimum of five minutes of added time but decided to play an extra two minutes due to a collision between Everton duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Carlos Alcaraz.

Those extra two minutes would end up costing Liverpool dearly with Tarkowski’s equaliser coming at the 97:08 minute mark – something which has left the Reds fuming.

Athletic reporter James Pearce has revealed that Liverpool have been left ‘unhappy’ with the decision to play added on time.

“Liverpool were unhappy with both the amount of stoppage time played on top of the announced minimum five minutes and the failure to penalise Beto for his challenge on Konate prior to Tarkowski making it 2-2.”