The Everton defender was only booked after following through with his clearance and catching Alexis Mac Allister above the ankle
The PGMOL – the body in charge of referees – has acknowledged that James Tarkowski should have been sent off in Everton‘s match against Liverpool.
It sparked widespread disbelief when the defender was only shown a yellow card by referee Sam Barrott for a lunge on Alexis Mac Allister that caught the Liverpool midfielder just below the knee with his studs early in a heated Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The Video Assistant Referee checked the decision but did not recommend Barrott reconsider it.
The i Paper understands, however, that the PGMOL has accepted that it was a mistake. Tarkowski did play the ball but the nature of the follow through meant it crossed the threshold into serious foul play and the player should have been sent off.
The i Paper understands that the VAR, which took 10 seconds to check the decision, did not deem Barrott’s call to be a clear and obvious error, and therefore did not call for the referee to review the decision. Had VAR Paul Tierney done so, it is likely Barrott would have upgraded the yellow card to a red.
Both managers believed the 11th-minute challenge should have been a red card.
Even Tarkowski’s manager, David Moyes, said: “We could have been lucky we didn’t get a red. It looked a high one.”
🗣️ "That's a potential leg breaker"
Gary Neville believes James Tarkowski was 'very lucky' to escape red for this challenge on Alexis Mac Allister 😳 pic.twitter.com/Di28mHouq2
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025
Liverpool manager Arne Slot added that “even people who are not liking Liverpool a lot are saying how clear and obvious it was”.
Commentating on Sky Sports, Gary Neville said: “That’s a potential leg breaker. I think he’s very lucky there.
“There will be those saying it’s a natural follow through, trust me, being a defender – [Jamie] Carragher in the studio will be able to tell you even better than me – you do not need to follow through like that and with such force.”
At half-time Carragher could then be heard remarking “tick” when the considerations for serious foul play – speed, intensity, force, degree of control, point and extent of contact – were being listed by host Kelly Cates.
“It’s a shocking tackle, it’s not really up for debate,” Carragher added.
“Tarkowski knows what he’s doing there. He’s got previous for Burley against Everton. The referee should give it on the pitch, for Tierney to not give as the VAR is shocking.”
Former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson agreed: “No argument, straight red. He knows what he’s doing. Back in the day you might have got away with that. A straight red card all day long
“Maybe the referee is a bit nervous, his first Merseyside derby, he should have given the [red card] decision on field.”
Liverpool went on to win the derby 1-0 to move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with eight games to play.