Everton shareholder rages over ‘utterly ridiculous’ incident v Liverpool as image shared

Everton shareholder Mike Parry has shared his fury over the “utterly ridiculous” decision to overturn a penalty awarded to the Toffees as they won the Merseyside derby 2-0 against Liverpool.

Jack Harrison played the ball in behind for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to chase before the striker was brought down in the box by a sliding Alisson, with referee Andy Madley initially pointing to the spot.

However, following a VAR review, the decision was overturned due to a tight offside decision – and Parry did not agree with the call.

He posted on X: “That’s an utterly ridiculous and stupid decision to deny Everton the penalty they should have had. Play hadn’t stopped when [Dominic Calvert-Lewin] was hauled down so it’s a penalty.”

Everton were on the right side of VAR when it mattered

Everton may have felt aggrieved at having their penalty overturned – although Calvert-Lewin did appear to be offside – but they ended up on the right side of the VAR review when it mattered most.

Jarrad Branthwaite opened the scoring in the 27th minute, reacting quickest in the box to squeeze a shot under Alisson and in off the post, with Calvert-Lewin following in but not touching the ball until it was across the line.

Another VAR check was conducted to ensure there was no offside offence in the build-up and, although it was tight once again, this time the lines absolved Everton of any wrongdoing and ensured their young central defender’s strike stood, helping the Toffees go into the break 1-0 up.

Given they went on to claim a seismic derby victory, Everton are unlikely to be too concerned with their overturned penalty.

In other Everton news, Jarrad Branthwaite’s value has plummeted by £30million after a new Goodison Park development.

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