Jamie Carragher reacts to the James Tarkowski incident in Liverpool v Everton.
(Credit: Sky Sports)
Danny Wright
Wed 2 April 2025 21:27, UK
Jamie Carragher was appalled by James Tarkowski in Everton versus Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Tarkowski, 32, was booked in the 11th minute after a horrific follow-through on Alex Mac Allister as he cleared the ball away from the Everton box.
VAR Paul Tieney checked the incident after Sam Barrott yellow-carded the Toffees defender but decided to stand by the on-field decision despite a general consensus that an act of serious foul play was committed.
Tarkowski wasn’t sent off for this challenge. (Credit: Sky Sports)
Carragher blasts Tierney after footage of Tarkowski incident
The Premier League announced that Tarkowski’s challenge was no more than “reckless” as they tried to back up Tierney’s failure to send Barrott to the pitch-side monitor.
Liverpool legend Carragher was furious with Tarkowski for making the challenge and also Tierney, for his failure to see that it was a blatant red-card offence.
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Speaking on Sky Sports Main Event at half-time on Wednesday night (2 April, 8:55pm), Carragher said: “Sam Barrott is in a fantastic position. He should give that on the pitch. He has to see that, he has to. It’s a shocking tackle and he knows it should be a red card. It’s not really up for debate.
“It’s an awful tackle. Tarkowski knows what he’s doing there and he’s got previous, actually, as well at Burnley.
“The referee should give it on the pitch but for Paul Tierney to not give it on VAR is shocking.”
"For Paul Tierney not to give it on VAR is SHOCKING"
"That's a straight red, ALL DAY LONG"
No doubts from Jamie Carragher and Duncan Ferguson that James Tarkowski should have seen red for his challenge on Alexis Mac Allister ❌ pic.twitter.com/wqvNqqEurB
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025
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Could the FA retrospectively punish Tarkowski?
Tarkowski definitely should have been sent off.
There’s no doubt that his challenge was reckless, as pointed out in the Premier League‘s statement. However, it was reckless to the point that it endangered Mac Allister’s safety.
Even Duncan Ferguson said at half-time that it was the kind of challenge that can break players’ legs – and if Big Dunc is saying that, you know it’s true.
Opponent Date
Arsenal (H) 5 April
Nottingham Forest (A) 12 April
Man City (H) 19 April
Everton’s next three games – will Tarkowski be available?
It remains to be seen if there’ll be any further punishment for Tarkowski because if his yellow card was upgraded to a red, he’d have been hit with a three-match ban.
There’s a chance the FA could look into Tarkowski’s challenge. However, the fact that the incident has already been reviewed by Barrott, Tierney and their assistants, there’s a chance they will want to save face and stand by their referees.
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