John Aldridge ‘confused’ by Everton outcry, suggests Liverpool were on end of bad decision
John Aldridge insists Everton can have no complaints over their controversial Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.
Everton were on the end of a 2-0 loss at Anfield on Saturday (21 October) after Mohamed Salah’s second-half double, the first of those a penalty.
The Toffees had Ashley Young sent off for two yellow cards in the first half, while Ibrahima Konate somehow avoided the same fate in the second.
While Aldridge accepts Konate should have been shown a red, he is unsure why Everton fans have questioned some of the referee’s decision.
Writing in his Liverpool Echo column on Monday [23 October], Aldridge said: “I am confused by the Everton fans suggesting they were robbed by the referee during Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
“The only decision that went against Everton was Konate not being shown a second yellow card and, yes, he should have been sent off.
“The referee made a mistake there, but don’t forget he made a bad error with the penalty we received. It had to go to VAR to even be awarded despite being as clear as day.
“Another talking point was the Ashley Young red card, but no Everton fan can seriously moan about that.”
Aldridge added: “We got what we deserved, at the end of the day. Even if Everton had eleven men, we still would have won the game. When you’ve got eleven men behind the ball, you can’t feel hard done by about not coming away with the three points.”
Laughable
The first Merseyside derby of the campaign certainly did not lack talking points. On the basis of Young being shown two yellow cards, Konate definitely should have been dismissed.
Some have suggested the penalty awarded against Everton for a Michael Keane handball was harsh. After all, Luis Diaz’s attempted cross barely travelled any distance before striking the defender’s arm.
It was a massive call by the officials; one that undone all of the Toffees’ strong defensive work and gave Liverpool the breakthrough they craved.
To suggest Everton got what they deserved, though, is way off the mark. Sean Dyche set up his side with the intention of frustrating Liverpool and potentially nicking a goal.
For 74 minutes or so, almost half of those with 10 men, Everton’s plan worked. Had it been 11-versus-11, or indeed 10 v 10 there is nothing to suggest they would not have succeeded in their mission.
Aldridge has a Liverpool bias, of course, but even he admits Konate should have gone. To suggest there was anything fair about the final scoreline is therefore laughable.
In other Everton news, a journalist has shared an unseen incident from the derby defeat that left a player “furious”.