Dermot Gallagher baffled live on Sky Sports by controversy in Everton v Liverpool

Dermot Gallagher was left baffled by the controversial decision to not send off Ibrahima Konate in the Everton game against Liverpool on Saturday (21 October).

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on Monday (23 October, 11:31am), the former Premier League referee said the challenge from the French international on Toffees forward Beto was "so cynical" despite him not picking up a second yellow for the foul.

He added that the 24-year-old "knew what he was doing" and the fact he was replaced by Jurgen Klopp just a minute later "tells the story" as the Reds secured a 2-0 victory at Anfield.

“There’s a few things, isn’t there?” said Gallagher. “It’s so cynical, he doesn’t make any attempt to play the ball. The argument, maybe Craig’s (Pawson) argument is that he isn’t going to get the ball, but Konate knew what he was doing.

"I think what summed it up is that a minute later, the bench have said to Gomez to get ready to come on and they’ve subbed him. That tells you the story.” 

Obvious

It was an obvious yellow card offence and there hasn't been anyone in the public eye who's come out and said Konate didn't deserve to be sent off.

The fact that Gallagher - a former referee at the highest level - doesn't understand how he didn't receive his marching orders just shows how poor it was.

The game was also finely poised at 0-0 when the Frenchman committed the foul on Beto, meaning the result could have been very different if the right decision had been made.

It makes it even more annoying for Everton that Ashley Young was sent off in the first half for two yellow cards to show there is no consistency whatsoever in the officiating.

The standard of refereeing has not been up to scratch across the board lately and it simply has to improve when there is so much on the line and mistakes are being made every week.

In other Everton news, Alan Shearer has raged at a controversial incident in the Merseyside Derby.