Everton manager David Moyes believes that Diogo Jota’s winner in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby should have been disallowed for offside, describing it as a “very easy decision to give”.
In the build-up to Jota’s goal in the 57th minute, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch attempted to play a pass to Luis Diaz, who was standing on the edge of the Everton box in what appeared to be an offside position.
Everton defender James Tarkowski went to ground to intercept the pass. The ball then ricocheted its way back to Jota, who then played a one-two with Diaz before working his way into the box to score the game’s only goal.
“There was an offside goal, which they get, so that’s the difference in the game tonight,” Moyes told Sky.
“I think the player behind Tarkowski (Diaz) interferes with him clearing it. It’s a clear offside, I think it’s a very easy decision to give. I can’t understand any reason why that wouldn’t have been given as offside, none at all.”
“I don’t think there’s many managers who come here and think they get loads of decisions at Anfield,” he added in his post-match press conference. “That’s my opinion. And this is one that I think is quite easy. It’s really easy to give offside.”
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said after the game that it was a “clear goal” but admitted that he would have been frustrated if he had been on the receiving end of the decision.
“According to the rules, it was a goal so no-one can complain about it,” Slot told Sky. “There’s always question marks but the good thing is we’ve got rules. The rules tell us, at least that’s what they’ve just showed on television, that it’s a clear goal.
“I would be frustrated if I conceded, but then I’m frustrated about the rule, and not about the execution of the rule because the execution of the rule was perfect from the referee. But the rule in itself is frustrating because you always have to help, in my opinion, the offensive team.
“The people who make the rules are not there for the love of the game, they are just there for making the rules.”
Moyes also had his say on another controversial moment from the game. Tarkowski received a yellow card for a challenge in the 11th minute that saw him win the ball but catch Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister high on the leg. The decision was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a possible red card but Tarkowski remained on the pitch.
“I thought at the time it was a brilliant tackle. Since I have seen it again, we could have been lucky we didn’t get a red because it looked high,” said Moyes.
Everton return to action on Saturday when they host Arsenal, while Liverpool visit Fulham on Sunday.
What are the offside rules?
According to the FA’s rules, if “a player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball.”
A player is also considered offside if they are interfering with the opponent by challenging for the ball, obstructing their line of vision or “making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.”
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
