Mike Dean has voiced his opinion that James Tarkowski should have seen red during Everton’s Merseyside derby clash with Liverpool on Wednesday night at Anfield, where the home side were aiming to close in on the Premier League title.
The match was charged with intensity from the start, and Everton skipper Tarkowski made a contentious move in the 11th minute with a risky tackle on Liverpool’s midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Although Tarkowski hit the ball first, his follow-through was high on Mac Allister’s left leg, leaving the Argentine writhing in pain on the field and Arne Slot shaking his head on the touchline.
Initially, Tarkowski was only shown a yellow card for his action. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the incident, and Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville was among those who felt it warranted a sending off, commenting: “It is a horrible tackle. He did not need to follow through like that”. Paul Merson was also disgusted by the decision.
However, VAR decided to uphold referee Sam Barrott’s original decision. A statement from PGMOL confirmed: “The referee’s call of yellow card for a reckless foul by Tarkowski was checked by the VAR, with contact on the follow through after Tarkowski had played the ball deemed to be reckless.”.
Yet, ex-Premier League referee Dean, typically a staunch defender of VAR and officiating decisions, expressed outrage at the outcome, failing to comprehend why Tarkowski wasn’t dismissed.
During his appearance on Sky Sports, Dean said: “Tarkowski’s played the ball… but when you see the still (image), the follow through is awful. I mean – he hasn’t got his foot planted luckily enough, but it’s a red card. There’s speed, intensity, force – the lot. He gets the ball, but the follow through – it’s a terrible challenge.
“For me, he (Barrott) should’ve gone to the screen, should’ve sent Tarkowski off – 100 percent. It is a horrible challenge. It is a red card all day.”
(Image: Liverpool FC)
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock didn’t hold back as he expressed his agreement with Dean’s opinion, strongly criticising Tarkowski’s tackle during his commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live: “This challenge is nasty from James Tarkowski. He wins the ball, but follows-through on Alexis Mac Allister.”
The ex-Red continued by saying, “Tarkowski knows exactly what he’s doing in that situation. I think it is so dangerous. It is out of control from Tarkowski.”
Warnock also took issue with referee Sam Barrott’s performance, particularly for missing a foul against Liverpool’s Luis Diaz in the first half.
Warnock concluded with critical remarks about the official’s handling of the game: “He is finding this difficult, Sam Barrott. That is a foul on Luis Diaz Diaz shows the ball to Jake O’Brien and O’Brien takes him out.”
