Liverpool reclaimed their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a professional yet unremarkable 1-0 win against Everton.
The Reds were back to winning ways after last month’s losses to PSG and Newcastle United, with Liverpool one step closer to lifting the English championship after enacting revenge against Everton following their dramatic draw earlier this year.
The big talking point of the match, though, was James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alexis Mac Allister, with Mark Clattenburg saying the Everton defender should have seen red after his reckless challenge on the Liverpool no. 10.
And Everton legend Duncan Ferguson has now given his verdict on Tarkowski’s rash tackle on Mac Allister.
Duncan Ferguson slams ‘terrible decision’ not to send off James Tarkowski
Speaking on Sky Sports coverage of the match, the former Goodison Park striker was critical of the referee’s decision not to send off Tarkowski, with Ferguson in disbelief that the Everton defender was not shown a red card.
Although Liverpool ended up winning the match and claiming bragging rights in Merseyside for another season, Tarkowski’s challenge on Mac Allister was brutal and could have caused the Argentine some real damage if the foul played out differently.
And even for a former Premier League hard man in Ferguson, the Everton legend believed Tarkowski should have been sent off, with the England international lucky to not have been sent for an early shower at Anfield.
Ferguson said: “No arguments, straight red, absolutely. He knows what he’s doing. he’s come right through him, that’s a straight red all day long. It’s the referee’s first derby, maybe he’s a bit nervous to make the decision, but he should have been sent to the monitor. It’s a straight red. Terrible decision.”
Jamie Carragher agrees that James Tarkowsk should have seen red
It wasn’t just Ferguson on the Sky Sports panel who thought Tarkowski was lucky to have remained on the pitch, with Jamie Carragher also sharing his disbelief that the Everton defender escaped a red card against Liverpool.
Carragher said when asked about Tarkowski’s tackle on Mac Allister: “In terms of the referee, he is in a brilliant position. He has to see that. It is a shocking tackle and there should be no debate.
“It is an awful tackle. He knows what he is doing. Tarkowski has got previous as well, against Everton for Burnley. The referee not giving it is bad but for Paul Tierney not to give that on VAR is shocking.”
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