Doucoure reflected on the emotional final derby at Goodison Park – and the scenes that followed the final whistle – on a podcast with former teammate Ben Foster
Abdoulaye Doucoure has offered new insight into the emotional aftermath of the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park – including his “spicy” exchange with Alexis Mac Allister.
James Tarkowski sent the home supporters wild with his stoppage time equaliser, his stunning volley ending a poignant final meeting between the sides before Everton move to their new waterfront home.
Doucoure celebrated in front of the away end on the final whistle, prompting Curtis Jones to intervene and leading to a mass brawl on the pitch. Doucoure and Jones each received second yellow cards while Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also sent off. Both clubs, Slot and Hulshoff have since been fined.
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The chaos continued into the bowels of Goodison and, speaking on Fozcast, the podcast of his former Watford teammate Ben Foster, Doucoure revealed what happened when he was called to take part in the routine post-match drugs test.
Referencing the words of Slot to referee Michael Oliver, who in his match report alleged the manager said “If we don’t win the league, I’ll f***ing blame you”, Doucoure said: “They were very touched by us, we heard them. After the game they were all like ‘it is your cup final’.
“I met Mac Allister in the doping room and he was saying: ‘Oh, are you happy now.’ I said ‘of course I am happy, you think it is easy to win here?’. He was fuming. But I love it.”
Doucoure continued: “After the game no-one wants to really see each other so I just came [to the doping room] after that. Mac Allister was there with my friend Gana Gueye, and he started to be very spicy in the room. I replied to him and he just left.”
On the battle with Jones, Doucoure said the pair actually have a good relationship off the pitch. He said: “The funny story with Curtis is I meet a couple of them because they live near to my house and he is a lovely guy.
“They see us on the plane going to Dubai and I see him with his family and we speak on the plane. People think we hate each other but we don’t.”
Reflecting on the derby, Doucoure said he was called into David Moyes‘ office and told Everton wanted to fine him. He said he accepted the punishment but, speaking in mid-April, said he was yet to receive the fine. He added: “To be honest the club has been very good to me, very fair.
“They just understand what happened with the emotion. Liverpool had two red cards, including the manager, so it can happen to anyone… It was a big game for us, the last Goodison derby against the rival and to score that last minute goal – everyone was crazy in the stadium. I think I got [carried] away with the emotion at the end.
“I just had a little banter with the fans but it ended up like a massive fight and I end up having a red card.
“To be honest after that I went through the city and everyone was like ‘you are a legend’. I don’t regret it. I think I bring a little bit of spice in these derbies.”
Doucoure referenced the abuse he received following the match, saying he got “thousands” of messages and is still receiving them – most from abroad.
After the game both Everton and Liverpool issued a joint statement condemning the abuse – an act that, this week, earned them an award from UEFA for their work to combat racism.
