Everton v Liverpool: ESPN pundit reacts as controversial footage emerges
Michael Oliver robbed Everton of a penalty in the game against Liverpool at Goodison Park on Wednesday night which ended 2-2.
Beto and Ibrahim Konate were both vying for the ball with the Reds centre-back shielding the Toffees striker from the ball.
While he achieved that, his hand clearly made contact with the ball, pushing it away from the sight of the goal.
Everton deserved the penalty against Liverpool
ESPN pundit Jim Beglin, who was commentating on the Premier League World Feed said on 12 February at 8:53 pm: “From that angle, it certainly looks like he dragged it back. You can never be sure what officials are going to say with incidents like that.”
David Moyes has every right to be fuming over the decision not to award his side a penalty, especially considering the clear evidence of Konate’s handball.
In the heat of the game, as the duo were contesting for the ball, the defender’s hand made unmistakable contact with it, pushing the ball away from a potential goal-scoring opportunity.
This action from Konate was not only deliberate but also his hand was in an unnatural position, which under the current rules of the game, should have resulted in a penalty.
The incident was so clear-cut that even if referee Craig Pawson had awarded the penalty, there’s a strong argument that the VAR)would not have intervened to overturn it, given the visual evidence supporting the call.
Mohamed Salah’s goal shortly after would’ve certainly hurt Everton
Missing out on what could have been a crucial penalty in a match that had significant implications for both teams in terms of league standings and morale would understandably leave him frustrated.
The lack of intervention from VAR, despite the clear footage, only adds to the sense of injustice, as fans and pundits alike acknowledged the potential for a penalty from the angles available.
This oversight could have tangible impacts on Everton’s season, fueling Moyes’ frustration post-match.
Mohamed Salah scored just minutes later, further rubbing salt on the Toffees’ wounds who had played so well until then.
However, this decision aside, there were plenty of positives to take from the game for the Toffees.