Refereeing Blunder Sparks Outrage: PGMOL Admits Error in Merseyside Derby

The Merseyside derby on April 2, 2025, delivered its usual dose of drama, but a refereeing decision—or lack thereof—has stolen the spotlight in the aftermath. During Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Everton at Anfield, Everton defender James Tarkowski escaped a red card for a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister, a call the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) now admits was a mistake. The admission, made on April 3, has reignited debates over officiating consistency in the Premier League, with fans and pundits alike questioning the reliability of VAR in high-stakes matches.

The incident occurred in the 11th minute when Tarkowski, already on a yellow, lunged into Mac Allister with a follow-through that left the Liverpool midfielder writhing. Referee Sam Barrott opted to let play continue, and VAR official Paul Tierney did not intervene to recommend a review. Liverpool went on to secure the win, with Diogo Jota’s second-half strike—set up by Luis Diaz—proving the difference after a controversial build-up that Everton boss David Moyes insisted was offside. But it’s the Tarkowski decision that has dominated post-match discourse. The PGMOL later conceded that the challenge met the threshold for serious foul play, warranting a red card, and that a VAR review should have been advised to overturn Barrott’s on-field call.

Moyes, visibly frustrated, didn’t hold back in his assessment. “I don’t know how that wasn’t a red,” he told reporters, also questioning the validity of Liverpool’s winning goal. “We had chances to get back into the game, but decisions like these make it tough. I said to the referee, ‘Are you looking at Tarky’s challenge?’ He said he was, but nothing came of it. I can’t get my head around it.” Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite echoed the sentiment, revealing he’d asked Barrott about Diaz’s positioning in the build-up to Jota’s goal, only to be left baffled when the goal stood after a VAR check.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, while pleased with the three points, took a measured stance on the officiating. “I’m not surprised Tarkowski stayed on,” he said post-match. “I don’t want to comment too much because so many people already have. We focus on what we can control, and that’s getting the win.” The victory moved Liverpool closer to the Premier League title, but the controversy has cast a shadow over the result, with some Everton fans on X calling the officiating “a disgrace” and others arguing the Tarkowski incident could have changed the game’s outcome.

The PGMOL’s admission does little to ease the frustration for Everton, who felt hard done by on multiple fronts. For Liverpool, it’s a fortunate escape, but the incident underscores ongoing concerns about VAR’s application in the Premier League. With technology meant to ensure fairness, the failure to correct such a clear error has once again put officiating under the microscope. As the season progresses, both teams will look to move on—Liverpool to their title chase, Everton to their fight for survival—but the echoes of this derby decision will linger, a reminder of football’s fine margins and the scrutiny that comes with them.