As Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in the latest Merseyside Derby, there was plenty of controversy on the night.
Duncan Ferguson felt James Tarkowski deserved a red card after his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister but he got away with what looked a textbook sending off.
But there was more controversy during the contest as Diogo Jota’s strike was not disallowed despite Luis Diaz being in an offside position in the build-up to the goal.
Tarkowski had to stretch to clear the ball because Diaz was standing right behind him, which hurried his decision and gifted Jota the ball, who weaved past Everton’s defence and capitalised.
Gary Neville had his say on whether Liverpool got away one as Jota’s goal was deemed fair and the hosts had the upper hand over the Toffees at Anfield once again.
Gary Neville says Diogo Jota’s goal during Liverpool vs Everton should’ve been disallowed
As a defender himself, Neville could perhaps understand the predicament Tarkowski found himself in as he was unaware that Diaz was offside and had to clear the ball, allowing Jota to pounce upon the chance and win Arne Slot’s side the game.
Gary Neville felt Liverpool got away with one and the goal should not have been given.
The pundit said on The Gary Neville Podcast: “When Diaz was offside, on the build-up to the Jota goal and the ball gets played down the channel to him and Tarkowski goes to intercept it and sort of stretch for it because Diaz is there, I don’t like that one. I’m going to whinge about that as a defender because as a defender, you’ve pushed up and you’ve played your man offside, he’s in the channel there, Tarkowski has to go across and play and he sort of stops it and the ball falls to Idrissa Gueye maybe and Jota comes in but they score from that, I think that’s a define offside.”
“I know it’s not in the rules but for me, that’s one that is a definite offside. It’s a little bit like the one where there’s a goal scored and there’s a player stood in front of the goalkeeper. That’s an offside because he’s interfering with play.”
“I think Diaz is interfering with play because Tarkowski’s had to stretch for it.”
David Moyes on Diogo Jota’s goal during Liverpool vs Everton
David Moyes was asked about whether Jota’s goal should have been given and he had the same view as Gary Neville after his Everton side lost to Liverpool.
Moyes initially said via BeanymanSports2: “He’s [Diaz] offside, yeah, he’s offside.”
“I’ve not seen the explanation but I’ve said to them that I’m disappointed, I think it’s quite an easy one to give because all of the players are holding the 18-yard line and Diaz comes from behind and affects Tarky from behind clearing it.”
“I’m really surprised it was given or maybe I’m not surprised.”
Regardless of David Moyes and Gary Neville’s views on the goal, Jota was Liverpool’s hero against Everton and his strike will long live in the memory of Reds supporters worldwide.
