Early in the match, Everton’s James Tarkowski escaped a red card despite a reckless, high tackle on Alexis Mac Allister. The challenge, deemed dangerous enough to cause serious injury, ignited controversy as VAR did not step in, leading to widespread outrage and debate.

The incident occurred when Tarkowski launched into a full-blooded challenge on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister near the edge of Everton’s penalty area.

While he connected with the ball first, his follow-through saw his studs rake high up Mac Allister’s left calf, leaving the Argentine writhing in agony and prompting an immediate uproar from players, fans, and pundits alike.

Referee Samuel Barrott, officiating his first Merseyside derby, issued a yellow card—a decision that VAR official Paul Tierney reviewed but upheld, much to the disbelief of many. The Premier League later released a statement via X, explaining, “The referee’s call of 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.” This justification—hinging on the tackle being “reckless” rather than “serious foul play”—failed to quell the storm, as former referee Mike Dean, speaking on Sky Sports, labeled it “astounding” that Tarkowski remained on the pitch. “It’s a red card all day,” Dean fumed, pointing to the speed and force of the challenge.

Pundits piled on. Jamie Carragher called it a “shocking tackle” and a “clear and obvious error,” while Gary Neville branded it a “potential leg breaker,” noting Tarkowski’s intent in the follow-through.

Even ex-Everton striker Duncan Ferguson agreed, insisting, “That’s a straight red—could’ve snapped his leg.” Liverpool fans on X erupted, with posts decrying the decision as “assault” and “cowardly,” amplifying the sense of injustice as Mac Allister, fortunately uninjured, continued after treatment.

The controversy casts a fresh spotlight on VAR’s high threshold for intervention and its consistency—or lack thereof—in dangerous play scenarios.

For Liverpool, leading the league but frustrated by a goalless first half, the incident fueled a narrative of missed justice. Everton, meanwhile, clung to their 11 men, nearly capitalizing when Beto struck the post later in the half.

As the dust settles, this moment promises to linger, a flashpoint in a rivalry already brimming with tension—and a stark reminder of football’s fine line between physicality and peril.