James Tarkowski escaped red card for horror challenge on Alexis Mac Allister
PGMOL chief Howard Webb admitted decision was wrong and spoke to Arne Slot
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By LEWIS STEELE
Published: 07:33 EDT, 3 April 2025 | Updated: 07:38 EDT, 3 April 2025
Arne Slot has jumped to the defence of referees and said officiating will never please everyone in a world where most people have a negative mindset.
The Liverpool head coach was talking after the refereeing body, PGMOL, acknowledged that Everton defender James Tarkowski should have been sent off for a reckless follow-through on Alexis Mac Allister in Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby, which the Reds won 1-0.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has been in touch with Liverpool and boss Slot said: ‘I think it's always good that if they think they made a mistake they acknowledge that. And we all know that mistakes are made in football matches – by us, by me, players, referees.
‘Everywhere around the world, mistakes are being made, it was in the league I come from too (in Holland). We are all aiming for a league with no mistakes and I am aiming for a season without me making one mistake with the lineups I make.
‘But unfortunately this will probably never happen. Not with me and not with referee decisions.
‘Mistakes are being made. I follow the Dutch league in Holland and there is so much criticism of referees in Holland, so I think it is in this world. If there is a possibility of being negative, eight out of 10 people will be negative.
James Tarkowski was only given a yellow card by referee Samuel Barrott (centre) for his horror tackle on Alexis Mac Allister
The defender's aggressive follow-through was described as a 'leg breaker'
‘So if the referee makes a wrong decision, everyone will fall over. If I make the wrong lineup, everyone falls over. So I think it's an OK season for England's referees, actually.
‘Mistakes are being made, but the most important thing is it doesn't influence the league table and the only answer to that is when we see it at the end and we say, “Did it influence it, yes or no?”. Mistakes are a part of our lives and from referees.’
The PGMOL reached out to Liverpool and acknowledged their error. While they did not issue an on-the-record statement, it is understood the PGMOL believes the nature of the follow-through in the challenge met the threshold for serious foul play.
The opinion of the PGMOL is that a VAR review, led by Paul Tierney, should have been recommended and ultimately the original decision overturned. It comes as part of PGMOL’s mission to be more open and transparent, which Slot and Liverpool received warmly.
Mac Allister, who was on the receiving end of the tackle, played through the rest of the match but Liverpool will assess the Argentine midfielder in the next 48 hours in case he has a delayed reaction to the tough challenge. Liverpool play at Fulham on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Alisson will also be checked over again before the trip to west London after the Brazil No 1 missed the Merseyside Derby having failed a concussion test. He was kicked in the head on international duty against Colombia two weeks ago.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez remain injured but Conor Bradley is pushing to be fit to return to the squad. Curtis Jones played at right back on Wednesday and Slot said: ‘He is very useful for me.
‘Me and Richard (Hughes, sporting director) talk a lot about this and next season and it is nice to have versatile players. Curtis is definitely one of them, he can defend and attack and can play in so many positions.
‘He has the mentality that he likes to be challenged. Yesterday was a challenge, some players hate to be challenged and stay in their comfort zone, but Curtis is up for the challenge.’