Gary Lineker has been left in shock by the controversy in the late stages of the Everton draw against Manchester United on Saturday.
The Toffees had a storming start to the clash at Goodison Park with Beto opening the scoring with just 19 minutes on the clock.
When Aboulaye Doucoure grabbed a second less than 15 minutes later, it felt like a win was on the cards before the Red Devils scored twice in the second half to secure a point.
The Evertonians thought they had the chance to win it with a last-minute penalty but it was VAR that took the headlines on Merseyside.
Lineker baffled by Ashley Young Everton penalty decision v Manchester United
It was Young who went down in the box under challenges from both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt and Andy Madley gave a spot-kick.
The two Man United defenders clearly had a hold of the 39-year-old’s shirt which stopped him from getting to the ball after an Andre Onana save.
Despite this, VAR recommended an on-field review which, as always happens when this is advised, the decision was reversed much to the confusion of Lineker on Match of the Day (22 February).
Reacting to the decision, the former Toffee said: “The VAR intervention, we’re a bit gobsmacked.”
Alan Shearer was in complete agreement as he said: “Whatever happened to the high bar and clear and obvious? There was absolutely no need for VAR to get involved at all here because it’s not a clear and obvious error.
“Yes, Ashley Young might make the most of it but there’s two clear pulls on his shirt, it’s clear to see. The referee gives it and is sent to the screen but what is mindboggling to me is, they didn’t show him the correct angles.”
Everton let down by VAR v Manchester United
It is safe to say that the home side should have been given the chance to win the clash against the Red Devils from 12 yards in the final stages.
The Premier League released a statement suggesting that Young hadn’t been fouled but the complaints that have followed, prove that this is not the case.
Ruben Amorim’s team were poor at Goodison Park and were ultimately lucky to even get back level considering the level of dominance the home side had at times.
| Stat | Everton | Manchester United |
| Expected goals | 1.91 | 0.41 |
| Big Chances | 4 | 1 |
| Shots on target | 8 | 3 |
| Touches in opposition box | 23 | 20 |
It just wasn’t to be in the end which will be greatly frustrating to Moyes who will have been impressed with his side once again, regardless of the eventual result.
The Scot will just be hoping that his side are on the right side of a VAR decision with clashes against Brentford and Wolves coming up.
