BREAKING NEWS: Me and my teammates are taking a stand—this game was a complete disaster, and we DEMAND a replay! From the first whistle to the final second, everything about it was wrong—the officiating, the calls, even the extra time. It’s clear they wanted us to drop points, and we REFUSE to accept this robbery. This is beyond unfair—it’s a disgrace to football! We won’t stay silent. A replay is the ONLY option.

Following the controversial Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025, Liverpool’s players and coaching staff have come together with a strong request for the match to be replayed. They claim that the game was tainted by multiple officiating mistakes and dubious decisions that undermined the fairness of the competition.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with James Tarkowski of Everton scoring a dramatic equalizer in the eighth minute of stoppage time. This goal followed a disputed incident where Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté seemed to have been fouled, but referee Michael Oliver and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not address the situation. The lack of action regarding this potential foul has become a key point in Liverpool’s complaints.

The controversy intensified after the match when a clash between Curtis Jones of Liverpool and Abdoulaye Doucouré of Everton resulted in both players being sent off. Liverpool manager Arne Slot was also dismissed after an altercation with the referee. These events have fueled Liverpool’s accusations of biased officiating and procedural mishandling.

In a joint statement, the Liverpool team voiced their dissatisfaction: “From the first whistle to the final second, the officiating was riddled with errors. It’s evident that the circumstances were orchestrated against us. We demand a replay to uphold the integrity of the sport.”

The club’s leadership is set to submit an official appeal to the Premier League, citing the series of officiating mistakes and the failure of VAR to correct clear errors. They argue that these compounded mistakes significantly influenced the match’s outcome, justifying the request for a replay to ensure fairness.

Historically, calls for match replays due to officiating errors are uncommon and rarely result in the overturning of match results. However, there are precedents. In 2024, a Belgian Pro League game between Anderlecht and Genk was ordered to be replayed after a VAR mistake led to an incorrect application of the rules, directly impacting the result.

Liverpool’s request for a replay highlights the club’s dedication to fair play and the integrity of the sport. They stress that their protest is not just about a single match but about addressing broader issues in officiating and the use of VAR technology.

As the football world awaits the Premier League’s response, this incident has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of VAR and the standards of officiating in elite football. Liverpool’s position has gained support from various groups, with many calling for a comprehensive review of the match and the decisions that marred it.

The result of Liverpool’s appeal could have important consequences for the future use of VAR and the procedures surrounding officiating errors in football. It remains to be seen how the Premier League will address these concerns and what actions will be taken to prevent similar controversies moving forward.