Liverpool secured a 1-0 win against Everton last night at Anfield, yet like any Merseyside derby, it wasn’t without controversy.
James Tarkowski escaped a red card after a rash challenge on Alexis Mac Allister, with Mark Clattenburg believing that the Everton defender should have been sent off for his reckless lunge on the Liverpool midfielder.
With Everton legend Duncan Ferguson and Jamie Carragher in agreement that Tarkowski should have been given his marching orders, the decision to not send the centre-back off has once again drawn outrage towards the lack of consistency Premier League referees have with moments like this.
Yet the PGMOL now seem to have confirmed that what happened last night with Tarkowski was a big mistake.
READ MORE: Arne Slot explains whether Alexis Mac Allister is injured after James Tarkowski’s horror tackle
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
PGMOL now believe James Tarkowski should have been sent off vs Liverpool
According to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, PGMOL have now ‘privately confirmed’ that Tarkowski should have been dismissed in Everton’s defeat against Liverpool, as the defender’s yellow card should have been upgraded to a red.
Although Liverpool ended up coming away with the win, Tarkowski could have seriously injured Mac Allister had the Everton defender’s tackle gone another way, and PGMOL now seem to acknowledge that they got it wrong with the England international.
Stone wrote: “The PGMOL has privately confirmed James Tarkowski should have been sent off during Everton’s defeat at Liverpool last night. Tarkowski was shown a yellow card for a reckless tackle on Alexis Mac Allister by on-field referee Sam Barrott during the game and this was confirmed after a VAR review that only lasted 10 seconds.
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“The decision was widely condemned by a number of pundits and Everton manager David Moyes admitted Tarkowksi was fortunate to stay on the field. However, PGMOL sources now accept the challenge reached the threshold for serious foul play and VAR Paul Tierney should have upgraded the punishment to a red card.”
Liverpool officials will have every right to be mad with PGMOL
After Luis Diaz’s goal against Tottenham was incorrectly ruled out for offside last season, everyone associated at Liverpool has had a real with PGMOL, who in the last few years have taken centre stage when it comes to Premier League controversies.
And Liverpool officials will again be fuming with the footballing body after last night’s decision not to send off Tarkowski, with everyone and their mother aware that the defender’s tackle was a red card offence.
Indeed, officials in the Premier League have been rightfully criticised this season for getting numerous decisions wrong, and had Mac Allister broken a leg last night because of Tarkowski, there would have been some serious consequences at PGMOL.