EVERTON captain James Tarkowski escaped a red card for a brutal tackle on Alexis Mac Allister just 10 minutes into the Merseyside derby.
The defender won the ball in a slide tackle before crashing into Liverpool‘s Argentine midfielder.
James Tarkowski crunched through Alexis Mac Allister
ReutersTarkowski’s follow through saw his boot planted on Mac Allister’s leg[/caption]
The incident was looked at by VAR Paul Tierney
APLiverpool’s Argentine midfielder was left in agony after the challenge[/caption]
Referee Sam Barrott immediately brandished a yellow card at Tarkowski.
The incident was subsequently looked at by VAR Paul Tierney.
But surprisingly, Tierney did NOT urge Barrott to go and take another look on the monitor.
In a statement posted on social media, the Premier League confirmed: “The referee’s call of yellow card for a reckless foul by Tarkowski was checked by the VAR, with contact on the follow through after Tarkowski had played the ball deemed to be reckless.”
Challenges deemed to be “reckless” by the letter of the law are worthy of a yellow card.
For a red card to be shown, officials must determine the tackle to have been “endangering an opponent” or to have used “excessive force”.
This means that neither Barrott or Tierney felt that Tarkowski’s challenge had met either criteria for a red.
After Mac Allister received treatment, Liverpool got the game going again – with Dominik Szoboszlai missing the resulting free-kick.
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Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was watching the game for Sky Sports News.
Reviewing the incident, the 56-year-old said: “The follow through is awful. He hasn’t got his leg planted, luckily enough.
“But it’s a red card – speed, intensity, force – the lot. He gets the ball but the follow through… it’s a terrible challenge.
“For me he (Barrott) should have gone to the screen, should have sent Tarkowski off – 100 per cent.”
At half-time, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said of Barrott: “He’s in a great position, he has to see that.”
Carragher then added: “For Paul Tierney not to give that on VAR, shocking.”
Everton hero Duncan Ferguson agreed, saying “no argument, straight red” – before calling the challenge a “leg-breaker”.
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Tarkowski’s booking means that he has tied the Premier League record for receiving the most yellow cards without being sent off.
The centre-back has now been booked 63 times in 300 appearances in England’s top flight, taking him level with Oriol Romeu’s tally of bookings.
Following the contentious incident, Everton caused Liverpool problems at Anfield.
Forward Beto was in the thick of the action, having a goal ruled out for offside in the 21st minute.
The lanky front-man later burst through on goal, only strike the post as the Kop End held its collective breath.
PATarkowski somehow looked incredulous at being booked[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
