Credit: The Rest Is Football on YouTube
Credit: The Rest Is Football on YouTube

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer react to ridiculous Everton handball controversy vs West Ham

Aheed Abrar

Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with a Masters in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University; transfer and club specialist across the Breaking Media network. FOCUS Transfer news, breaking stories, and club-level insight across the Premier League and EFL. THE INSIGHT Aheed utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the foundations behind the headlines to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

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Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer can't believe Everton weren't awarded a penalty against West Ham United on Saturday.

With the game 1-0 in favour of the Hammers at the London Stadium on 25 April, Mateus Fernandes clearly handled the ball inside the box while challenging Thierno Barry for it.

VAR reviewed the incident and deemed the midfielder's actions accidental, but Lineker and Shearer couldn't believe Stuart Attwell didn't point to the spot.

The former Newcastle United striker feels it's ridiculous that Fernandes wasn't penalised and the Toffees fans have every right to be aggrieved by it.

Nuno Espirito Santo got the better of David Moyes on the day with a 2-1 victory, but the result could have been different had the decision gone the Merseyside outfit's way.

Everton fail to capitalise vs West Ham

Speaking on The Rest Is Football on 27 April, Lineker said, "Did you see that handball? That's a penalty, isn't it?" and Shearer responded, "I just think it's a ridiculous decision not to give that as a handball. And then for even what I heard about the grappling, it was only one player that was grappling."

Lineker added, "[Fernandes] was not only fouling him but also his hand moved to the ball. I don't like the handball law, but that was a penalty all day long."

With the race for Europe wide open in the Premier League, the Toffees failed to take advantage of the teams above them in the table dropping points.

West HamStatisticsEverton
44%Possession56%
1.17xG1.45
3Big chances1
10Total shots11
1Goalkeeper saves1
Stats from Everton's loss to West Ham, as per Sofascore

West Ham have struggled in the current campaign, but they were able to get the three points at London Stadium at the expense of the Blues.

Moyes has seen his team concede stoppage-time winners in back-to-back losses, which surely won't please the Scottish manager.

The Merseyside outfit face Manchester City next on 4 May as they stare at the prospect of a third straight defeat against the title challengers.

David Moyes risks fan unrest at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton fans have questioned whether Moyes is really the right manager to lead them in the coming years and help them make progress in L3.

The prospect of Europe has quelled noise around the Scottish boss' future in recent weeks, but supporters are now once again raising concerns about the Toffees style of play.

Current Premier League table with Everton position
Credit: Imago

Moyes is considered to favour a conservative approach, and while it helped them survive last season, it may not be what the Hill Dickinson Stadium faithful want to see regularly.

If the Merseyside outfit fail to end the season on a high, TFG could potentially have some tough decisions to make in the summer.

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