Mike Dean flummoxed by Craig Pawson decision in Everton loss at Liverpool
Mike Dean is adamant that “consistency-wise” Ibrahima Konate should have been sent off for Liverpool in their 2-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton on Saturday (21 October).
The France defender was booked for pulling Amadou Onana to the ground early in the second half but avoided a second caution for a similar challenge on Beto 15 minutes later.
The Toffees had already seen Ashley Young sent off and were left fuming Konate avoided punishment and was then withdrawn for Joel Matip.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday (21 October), Dean said Craig Pawson was wrong not to get the yellow card back out of his pocket.
“I think it is a second yellow, I do. Consistency-wise, you send off a player for two fouls in the first half. He has done two in the space of 10 minutes. I guarantee you he will get substituted,” Dean said in quotes reported by the Liverpool Echo.
Awful decision
It seems like we cannot go one weekend without a baffling decision in the Premier League this season and chalk this one right up there with the worst calls that have been made this term.
Jurgen Klopp called for a replay when Luis Diaz had a goal wrongly disallowed in a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham prior to the international break following a VAR error but this is proof that bad calls tend to even themselves out.
Not that Everton will take much solace from that old adage after going down to their rivals in the Merseyside derby, with Konate bafflingly staying on the pitch for two similar fouls that were definitely both yellow-card worthy.
There were few arguments that Ashley Young deserved to be sent off, but what Sean Dyche and Everton supporters – well football fans in general – demand is some consistency. Referees have a tough job, you’ll never get 100 per cent success rate with decisions but standards need to improve and fast.
In other Everton news, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is being lined up for a Toffees exit.