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Tarkowski was booked for the brutal challenge (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Everton captain James Tarkowski approached Alexis Mac Allister to apologise for his horror challenge on the Liverpool star during the Merseyside derby.
Wednesday’s clash at Anfield was settled by Diogo Jota’s second-half strike, sending Liverpool 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League and within touching distance of the trophy.
But there was controversy in the first-half when Tarkowski avoided what appeared to be an obvious red card after wiping out Mac Allister on the edge of his own box.
While he made contact with the ball, the England international crashed through the Liverpool midfielder with his studs up high, smashing into Mac Allister’s calf and leaving him in need of treatment.
Tarkowski was booked by on-pitch referee Samuel Barrott with the incident then reviewed by VAR Paul Tierney.
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VAR however agreed with Barrott’s on-field decision and advised no further action was needed.
Tarkowski’s challenge was widely condemned with former Premier League referee Mike Dean ‘astounded’ the defender remained on the pitch.
Liverpool FC v Everton FC - Premier League
Tarkowski’s challenge was widely condemned (Picture: Getty Images)
At the full time whistle, Tarkowski immediately approached Mac Allister with the two smiling and sharing some friendly words before parting on good terms.
‘I spoke to him, I apologised because it was not a great tackle,’ Tarkowski told Premier League Productions.
‘When the ball fell between us I actually thought he was going to come in and I was expecting a big, old-school 50-50 tackle.
‘He just pulled out of the tackle, as I lunged in my follow-through caught him really high.
The Everton captain apologised after the final whistle (Picture: Sky Sports)
‘I’ve apologised to him and he’s accepted it but not a great one from me.’
Everton boss David Moyes was initially convinced it was a ‘brilliant’ tackle from his skipper.
‘My first thought was it’s a brilliant tackle for a derby game,’ the Toffees boss said.
‘A tackle that maybe we would have seen a few years ago. But I understand that nowadays there’s things that are slightly different with follow throughs, so we might have got a bit lucky.’
Moyes was also frustrated that Liverpool’s winner was allowed to stand, convinced Luis Diaz was stood in an offside position when he teed up Jota.
‘The player behind Tarkowski interferes with him clearing it,’ Moyes said.
‘It’s a clear offside, I think it’s a very easy decision to give. I can’t understand any reason why that wouldn’t have been given offside. None at all.’
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