Premier League releases statement on red card controversy as Liverpool defeat Everton

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Premier League releases statement on red card controversy as Liverpool defeat Everton

The Premier League on Wednesday night, released a statement revealing why referee Samuel Barrot opted not to send James Tarkowski off after his tackle on Alexis Mac Allister during the first half of the Merseyside derby.

Tarkowski went flying into Mac Allister just outside his penalty area.

The Reds midfielder was left writhing in pain as the VAR reviewed the incident.

Eventually the VAR officials adjudged that Tarkowski’s challenge did not meet the threshold for serious foul play.

The Premier League’s Match Centre wrote on X: “The referee’s call for 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.”

While Tarkowski’s challenge was judged to be reckless by VAR, not everybody agreed with that call.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, described the tackle as ‘horrible’, saying: “It is a horrible tackle. He did not need to follow through like that.”