Early in the match, Everton’s James Tarkowski escaped a red card despite a reckless, high tackle on Alexis Mac Allister. The challenge, deemed dangerous enough to cause serious injury, ignited controversy as VAR did not step in, leading to widespread outrage and debate. A reckless lunge, a star down—Tarkowski escapes as VAR falters. Danger ignored? Rage ignites. Referee should be punished!!! 😡
Controversy Erupts as Tarkowski Escapes Red Card for Dangerous Challenge on Mac Allister
The Merseyside derby saw an early moment of controversy when Everton’s James Tarkowski escaped a red card for a reckless tackle on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister. The high challenge, which could have resulted in a serious injury, ignited debate after VAR chose not to overturn the on-field decision.
The incident took place near Everton’s penalty area when Tarkowski lunged aggressively at Mac Allister. While he initially made contact with the ball, his follow-through saw his studs dangerously rake across the Argentine midfielder’s calf. Mac Allister, clearly in pain, needed medical attention but was able to continue playing.
Referee Samuel Barrott, officiating his first-ever Merseyside derby, only issued a yellow card. Despite reviewing the incident, VAR, led by Paul Tierney, upheld the decision. The Premier League later justified the call in a statement, explaining that the foul was classified as “reckless” rather than meeting the criteria for serious foul play. However, this explanation did little to calm the backlash.
Former referee Mike Dean, analyzing the incident on Sky Sports, was baffled that Tarkowski was not sent off. “That’s a red card every day of the week,” he said, emphasizing the intensity of the challenge. Pundits like Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville also slammed the decision, with Carragher calling it a “blatant refereeing mistake” and Neville branding the tackle a “potential leg-breaker.”
Even ex-Everton forward Duncan Ferguson acknowledged the severity of the foul, stating, “That should have been a straight red—Mac Allister was lucky to walk away from that.”
Liverpool fans took to social media to vent their frustration, labeling the challenge “reckless” and the referee’s decision “embarrassing.” The situation further fueled ongoing criticism of VAR’s inconsistency in handling dangerous tackles.
For Liverpool, who were leading the Premier League but struggling to break the deadlock in a goalless first half, the controversial call only added to their frustrations over officiating standards. Everton, benefiting from the decision, nearly capitalized on the momentum when Beto struck the post later in the game.
As debates over VAR and refereeing decisions continue, this incident will likely be remembered as one of the defining moments of the fierce rivalry between the two clubs. It highlights the fine line between aggressive football and reckless play—one that referees must navigate carefully in such high
-stakes matches.
