Keith Hackett has slammed referee Sam Barrott and VAR Paul Tierney for not sending off Everton centre-back James Tarkowski against Liverpool.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there was “malice” in the 32-year-old’s challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.
Liverpool would beat Everton 1-0 at Anfield on Wednesday (2 April), taking them another step closer to the Premier League title.
However, while that success is another major boost for Arne Slot‘s side, they will have been far from happy with an incident that played out early on in that game.
James Tarkowski avoids red card for Alexis Mac Allister challenge
The reverse fixture had seen James Tarkowski become an Everton hero after scoring a stoppage time equaliser to deny Liverpool victory.
This time around though, the centre-back was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, after avoiding a red card with just 11 minutes on the clock.
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As Alexis Mac Allister looked to pick up possession on the edge of the Everton area, Tarkowski attempted to clear the ball with a sliding challenge.
| James Tarkowski vs Liverpool | Total (as per SofaScore) |
| Fouls | 2 |
| Tackles | 1 |
| Clearances | 12 |
| Blocked Shots | 3 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Duels Won | 6/11 |
| Successful Passes | 13/18 |
Although the 32-year-old was able to make his clearance, his studs then caught the Liverpool midfielder high on his leg on the follow through, causing it to bend awkwardly.
After Barrott then issued a yellow card to Tarkowski, that decision was then confirmed by Tierney on VAR without a review at the monitor, to the shock of many.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was stunned that the Everton man was not sent off for his challenge on Mac Allister, and Hackett has also now criticised the officials for that decision.
🗣️ “That’s a potential leg breaker”
Gary Neville believes James Tarkowski was ‘very lucky’ to escape red for this challenge on Alexis Mac Allister 😳 pic.twitter.com/Di28mHouq2
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025
Keith Hackett shocked by red card decision in Liverpool vs Everton
After being asked what he made of the decision not to send Tarkowski off, Hackett told Football Insider:
“Referee Sam Barrott appeared to be in a good position to view the challenge by the Everton player on his opponent. However, he got it 100% wrong, he produced a yellow card.
“This was a serious foul play challenge: excessive force, reckless, out of control, endangering the safety of an opponent, with a degree of malice that should have resulted in a red card.
“VAR reviewed that challenge [it is] difficult again to understand how experienced former referee Paul Tierney, looking at the replays, cannot judge this as a clear and obvious error.
“Referee Barrott should have been sent to the monitor to review. Had he done that, I don’t think he would have hesitated in changing the colour of the card from yellow to red.
“Referees at this level have got to get the big decisions right. Sadly, this was wrong.”
Following that win, Liverpool are now 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with eight games of the season remaining ahead of their clash with Fulham on Sunday (6 April).
Everton meanwhile are 14 points clear of the relegation zone, and are set to face the Gunners at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon (5 April).
