In an electrifying Merseyside derby on Wednesday night, Everton defender James Tarkowski found himself at the center of controversy after a tackle on Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister. Despite being shown a yellow card for the challenge, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) later admitted that Tarkowski should have received a red card, acknowledging that the follow-through met the threshold for serious foul play.
The match played at Anfield saw Liverpool claim a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Diogo Jota's 57th-minute goal, marking the club's 100th derby win and bringing them closer to securing the Premier League title. However, the match was marred by officiating decisions that left both teams feeling aggrieved.
Referee Sam Barrott issued a yellow card to Tarkowski after he caught Mac Allister high on the back of the calf while attempting to win the ball. Although VAR reviewed the decision, it upheld the yellow card, which many pundits and former players, including Duncan Ferguson and Gary Neville, felt was a mistake. Ferguson stated it was a “straight red all day,” highlighting the widespread belief that Tarkowski was fortunate to remain on the pitch.
Following the match, Everton manager David Moyes expressed his mixed feelings about the incident, admitting, “I thought at the time it was a brilliant tackle for a derby game. You people are all asking for (physical play) and then when you get it you want a sending-off, so be careful what you wish for.” However, he later conceded that they were “lucky” Tarkowski did not see red, reflecting on the nature of the challenge.
On the other side, Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who had been sent off for his protests during their previous encounter at Goodison Park, chose to remain diplomatic. He acknowledged the mistakes made by referees, stating, “I think it’s always good that if they think they’ve made a mistake they acknowledge that.” Slot noted that many pundits, regardless of their allegiance, recognized the clarity of the mistake regarding Tarkowski's tackle.
As the match progressed, the tension escalated not only due to the fierce rivalry but also because of the officiating. Moyes was particularly frustrated by the build-up to Jota's goal, claiming that Luis Diaz was in an offside position when Ryan Gravenberch played the ball forward. “He’s offside,” Moyes argued, emphasizing that he was surprised the officials did not call it, given the circumstances surrounding the play.
Slot, while acknowledging the goal stood, shared his personal discontent with the offside rule itself, stating, “Do I like the rules? No. I do not like the rule, it is not a rule that helps the team wanting to attack.”
As both teams gear up for their next matches, Everton will be looking to bounce back from this defeat, while Liverpool aims to capitalize on their momentum as they approach the business end of the season. The Toffees will need to regroup quickly ahead of their next fixture, while Liverpool prepares for a crucial encounter against Fulham on April 6, 2025.
Mac Allister, who played the full game, is expected to be fit for the upcoming match, with Slot hopeful that all players will be ready to contribute. He remarked, “Sometimes adrenaline or just keeping running can help you, and then after a night’s sleep, you can come back and feel ‘maybe I do feel something now’.”
The fallout from the derby continues to echo, with discussions around the standards of officiating and the role of VAR in the Premier League reigniting. As the season progresses, both teams will be looking to ensure that their performances on the pitch are not overshadowed by contentious decisions off it.
With the PGMOL's admission regarding Tarkowski's tackle, the debate over the effectiveness of VAR and refereeing standards in the Premier League is likely to persist. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely as the league approaches its climax, eager to see how these issues are addressed moving forward.
