Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool is fouled by James Tarkowski of Everton during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield on April 02, 2025(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

James Tarkowski avoided a red card in the early stages of the Merseyside derby. The Everton captain was cautioned after his full-blooded clearance saw him catch Alexis Mac Allister high in the leg on the edge of the Blues box.

There was no doubt Tarkowski won the ball, but the issue fell to the force he used in doing so, with the Argentina international needing treatment after the incident.

Referee Sam Barrott gave a foul on the pitch and immediately produced a yellow card for the 32-year-old, Everton’s hero in the Goodison Park derby six weeks ago after his late equaliser.

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But after a brief check the incident was cleared, with officials sticking by the on-field decision. Dominik Szoboszlai then curled the resulting free-kick narrowly wide.

A Premier League statement put out on X (formerly Twitter) read: “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.”

The previous meeting between the two teams this season was also a contentious one, with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot convinced Everton’s late equaliser should’ve been disallowed for a foul on Ibrahima Konate.

Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both sent off after the final whistle, as were Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones.