Peter Lynch

Tue 24 October 2023 17:10, UK

Chris Sutton believes it was an “absolute shocker” that Liverpool ace Ibrahima Konate was not sent off against Everton.

The Reds defender avoided a second yellow card in the second half of the match on Saturday (21 October) despite making a cynical foul.

The lack of a second booking came after Toffees defender Ashley Young was sent off after receiving two first half yellow cards.

“Blimey,” Sutton said on The Monday Night Club on BBC 5 Live Sport (23 October). “That was an absolute shocker. Fair play to Jurgen Klopp for whipping him off immediately, really good management. It is a shame that in a situation like that VAR can’t intervene, an obvious mistake from the referee.

“And I really fell for Sean Dyche because Everton didn’t really lay a glove on Liverpool but they were in the game weren’t they? Down to 10 men, showing that resilience, that heart, that discipline.”

Game-changing moment

Everton were definitely causing Liverpool a few problems in the first half of their clash at Anfield, with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin seeing a header saved from Alisson just seconds into the match.

However, the task of picking up at least a point on the road was made near impossible following the red card to Young.

That said, the visitors didn’t give up, with Dyche making things very difficult for Jurgen Klopp’s men, who struggled to break down a rigid Toffees defence.

That all changed when Michael Keane conceded a penalty with just 15 minutes to go, which Salah dispatched, with the Egyptian then adding a second as the Reds broke forwards in the dying seconds.

So, while Dyche will be disappointed with the result, he can take plenty of heart from the performance, even though the blue half of Merseyside lost 2-0. It doesn’t, however, get any easier, with West Ham and Brighton up next in the Premier League for the Toffees.

In other Everton news, a BBC Sport journalist has blasted an “inexplicable” incident in the recent Merseyside Derby defeat to Liverpool.