Liverpool fans were hoping for a last-minute reprieve when James Tarkowski’s stoppage-time equalizer was reviewed by VAR during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby. However, the goal stood, leaving the Reds with only one point instead of the expected three.
Tarkowski’s dramatic 98th-minute strike was just one of several contentious incidents in the match, which saw no red cards during play but four handed out after the final whistle, with referee Michael Oliver once again at the center of attention.
Conceding such a late goal is always tough, but when it happens against a local rival under questionable circumstances, it’s even harder to swallow. Oliver had already exceeded the initial five minutes of added time when Tarkowski scored, although a two-minute stoppage due to a head clash between Jarrad Branthwaite and Carlos Alcaraz at 93:43 contributed to the extension.
VAR Decision Favors Everton
Everton’s celebrations were briefly interrupted as VAR reviewed the goal for a potential offside and a possible foul by Beto on Ibrahima Konate in the box. In the end, both calls went in Everton’s favor, though they may have been fortunate.
According to Football Offsides on X, an independent VAR review source, Abdoulaye Doucouré seemed slightly offside before Tarkowski’s goal. However, the goal stood due to the system’s tolerance level.
The Inconsistency of VAR Decisions
While some may argue that such a marginal offside should not disallow a goal, offside calls are generally viewed as clear-cut—either a player is offside or they aren’t. Liverpool fans may remember a similar situation from October 2020, when Sadio Mane was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins, causing Jordan Henderson’s late winner to be disallowed.
That frustration was worsened by Jordan Pickford avoiding punishment for a reckless challenge that left Virgil van Dijk with an ACL injury.
Additionally, beyond the offside debate, Beto seemed to push Konate in the penalty area just before the goal. How VAR missed that remains a mystery, one that demands an explanation.
While Liverpool’s performance may not have matched expectations for Premier League title contenders, the nature of the equalizer leaves a bitter taste. With no way to change the outcome, the Reds must now focus on recovering with a win against Wolves on Sunday.
