(Credit: Imago/Sky Sports News)
Josh Edwards
Thu 3 April 2025 16:40, UK
Everton conceded a controversial goal in their defeat away to Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Having entered the clash nine games unbeaten, Everton will have been disappointed to leave Anfield empty-handed in a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the game, which was full of controversial incidents, some of which benefitted the Toffees, while the biggest decision certainly went against them.
James Tarkowski was involved in two controversial moments v Liverpool (Credit: Imago)
Sam Barrott right to award Liverpool goal
James Tarkowski was perhaps fortunate to have been on the pitch at the time of the goal, having escaped a red card for his challenge on Alexis Mac Allister early in the game.
A yellow card was brandished to the Everton defender, who will have felt rather hard done by when it came to the deciding goal of the clash.
MORE TOFFEES STORIES
Ryan Gravenberch appeared to thread a ball through to Luis Diaz, who was standing in an offside position, seemingly forcing Tarkowski into making a challenge for the ball, just seconds before Jota latched onto the loose ball and dispatched past Jordan Pickford.
Liverpool v Everton Goals Shots xG Possession
Liverpool 1 17 1.47 74%
Everton 0 5 0.67 26%
Everton saw very little of the ball against Liverpool at Anfield.
The award of a goal caused uproar among the Everton faithful, but Dermot Gallagher believes it was the right call to make.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (2 April), Gallagher, an ex-Premier League official, said: “There are times when referees have to apply the law. They might not like it, but they have to apply it.
“Without doubt, Diaz is in an offside position. Being in an offside position isn’t an offence. What happens then is Tarkowski goes to take ownership of that ball. Once he does that, it’s a football motion. Diaz has come back on side, he gets involved in play, and the goal is scored.”
“But if you look at this, does he prevent an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by obstructing his line of vision? No. Does he challenge the ball? No. Does he clearly attempt to play the ball? No. The last one is, do his actions impact the defender? Well, only Tarkowski knows that.”
Everton are enjoying life under Moyes (Credit: Imago)
Everton will feel hard done by v Liverpool
With the goal being the difference maker in the game, Everton will certainly feel as though they didn’t get the rub of the green at Anfield, though they won’t let it distract them from the task at hand.
With eight games remaining, the Toffees simply need to play their football and give a good account of themselves, in a bid to take as much momentum into the new campaign as possible.
Related Posts