Liverpool manager Arne Slot has welcomed the PGMOL admission that James Tarkowski should have been sent off during Liverpool’s 1-0 victory.
The controversial incident occurred in the first half when Tarkowski lunged into a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister. Though the Everton defender initially cleared the ball, his follow-through caught Mac Allister on the calf.
Referee Sam Barrott issued only a yellow card, and VAR official Paul Tierney chose not to intervene.
The decision sparked criticism, with former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson, speaking on Sky Sports, insisting it was a “clear red card offence.”
Other pundits echoed this sentiment, questioning the consistency of officiating. The PGMOL has since admitted privately that the challenge warranted a red card.
“I think it’s always good that if they think they made a mistake they acknowledge that and we all know that mistakes are made in football matches, by us, by me, players, referees,” Slot said.
“It is good they acknowledged the mistake, but it was so clear what I said yesterday that so many pundits who aren’t Liverpool fans were all clear about it too so it is good they acknowledged it but let’s move on to Sunday.
“On the goal (from Diogo Jota), I conceded a goal like this when I was at Feyenoord against Atletico Madrid. Actually the linesman raised his flag but VAR interfered and said the player wasn’t interfering with the situation, which I disagreed with completely.
“As I said yesterday, I disagree with the rule because I don’t like that rule. Everton are playing in a low block but most teams who press high want to go halfway line to play some players offside and and when the goalkeeper goes long, Virgil (Van Dijk) van Ibou (Konate) go for a duel with an offside player.
“I always tell the linesman he is offside and he always tells me he is not interfering with play. So the rule was executed properly, in the way it should, which is good for us. But I don’t like the rule.”
