Credit: Sky Sports

Keith Hackett

Wed 2 April 2025 20:44, UK

James Tarkowski was fortunate to avoid a red card in Everton’s final trip across Stanley Park to play Liverpool at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister was left in a heap on the ground in the 11th minute after Tarkowski, 32, followed through on a clearance.

Although the ex-Burnley defender won the ball, the force of his clearance led to him planting his studs high on Mac Allister’s calf.

Sam Barrott booked Tarkowski, and although it was reviewed by VAR Paul Tierney, the centre-back’s yellow card wasn’t upgraded to a red despite it clearly endangering Mac Allister’s safety.

VAR blamed over Liverpool v Everton controversy

Keith Hackett is adamant that Tarkowski should have been red-carded by Barrott.

The former FIFA and Premier League referee recited the rules around serious foul play and he believes Tierney didn’t do his job at backing up Barrott.

“That is a red card challenge, VAR has let referee Barrott down,” Hackett told Goodison News.

“The law states that serious foul play is a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

“Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”

Tarkowski in centre of another Merseyside Derby controversy

When Everton last met Liverpool, Tarkowski scored a 98th-minute equaliser to earn the Blues a 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.

Liverpool felt aggrieved about that goal being allowed to stand despite a lengthy VAR check about whether there was a foul in the build-up.

Tarkowski didn’t need luck on that occasion because there was no issue.

But fortune certainly favoured him in the first half at Anfield.