Richard Keys slams Craig Pawson over Everton vs Liverpool controversy in game ‘too big’ for him
Craig Pawson was “really poor” in the Everton defeat at Liverpool as he showed “absolutely no consistency”, according to Richard Keys.
The beIN Sports host reacted on Twitter on 21 October as the Merseyside derby ended in a 2-0 home win at Anfield amid controversy over the officiating, with Keys suggesting the game had been “too big” for him.
Pawson showed Ashley Young two first-half yellows but failed to even up the numbers when Ibrahima Konate halted a Toffees break when on a booking after the break.
Keys wrote: “I can’t be the only one thinking this game was too big for Craig Pawson today. He’s been poor. Really poor. There’s been absolutely no consistency.”
A penalty for handball against Michael Keane broke the deadlock before Mohamed Salah added his and Liverpool’s second on the break in injury time.
Bad look
It was only two seasons ago that Frank Lampard was fined for his comments on how visiting teams don’t get the decisions the home side does at Anfield, when Anthony Gordon wasn’t awarded a penalty in another 2-0 loss.
And Sean Dyche was booked for his protests on Saturday when Konate stayed on the pitch, with Jurgen Klopp taking full advantage to quickly substitute him.
Pawson didn’t have a good game by any means but coming in the first Liverpool game after the major fall-out from their defeat to Tottenham after a VAR error before the international break it looks that much worse.
The appearance of the Reds being able to put pressure on officials to such a degree and get results is a major issue for the Premier League and the PGMOL.
Fans were concerned in the build up to the derby that the home side might get favourable decisions in the wake of the Spurs loss, and it duly came to pass.
It is impossible to know whether that was a deliberate response to the VAR face last time or simply mind-numbing inconsistency on the day from Pawson, but on a day where Everton limited the Reds for most of the game it was hugely disappointing for the game to be tilted by the officiating.
In other Everton news, Ally McCoist was wowed by one “brilliant” Toffees ace at Anfield, and admitted he hadn’t praised him enough.