Everton captain James Tarkowski was given a yellow card for a challenge on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside derby
James Tarkowski's foul on Alexis Mac Allister
James Tarkowski's foul on Alexis Mac Allister(Image: AP)
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has insisted he was astounded that Everton captain James Tarkowski was not sent off for his tackle on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on Wednesday evening. With little over 10 minutes on the clock, the centre-back lunged into a challenge on the edge of the box.
While Tarkowski certainly won the ball, his follow-through caused the Argentine plenty of anguish. With his studs up, the defender caught Mac Allister halfway between the midfielder's knee and foot.
Initially, referee Sam Barrott gave a yellow card to the defender who pleaded his innocence. The Sky Sports broadcast briefly showed that VAR was reviewing the decision but it is understood the officials at Stockley Park did not check the tackle.
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Watching the decision and tackle in real time, Dean told Sky Sports' Soccer Special that Tarkowski should have been sent off. "The challenge has gone in and Tarkowski has played the ball but when you see the still… The follow through is awful," the former referee said.
"He (Alexis Mac Allister) has not got his foot planted luckily enough but it is a red card. There is speed, intensity, force, the lot.
"He gets the ball but the follow through, it is a terrible challenge and for me, he should have gone to the screen, should have sent Tarkowski off, 100 per cent. What the VAR has probably said is that he has got the ball, the follow through has caught him.
"He will say normal footballing contact but it is not, it is just a horrible challenge. He had to be sent to the screen, those kinds of challenges, as you ex-players will know, just can’t happen in football because he could have broke his leg.
"100 per cent red. It is just a red card all day, I am astounded he hasn’t given it."
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