Liverpool FC beat Everton FC 1-0 in the Merseyside derby, taking a big step towards the championship. However, the winning goal caused anger for guest coach David Moyes.
In the 57th minute of play, Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch walked through midfield and played a deep ball towards Luis Diaz, who was in an offside position. Everton defender James Tarkowksi then made a sliding tackle to intercept the pass before Luis Diaz moved out of offside position and, milliseconds later, back-heeled for Diogo Jota, who put the ball in the net.
Slot: “It was a goal according to the rules”
After the game, opinions were divided on whether the goal was legitimate or not. “There was an offside goal that they got – and that’s the difference in the game tonight,” said Everton manager Moyes clearly to Sky. “I think the player behind Tarkowski is interfering with him […] I can’t see any reason why that shouldn’t have been offside. None whatsoever.”
His opposite number Arne Slot, on the other hand, felt it was a ‘clear goal’. ”According to the rules, it was a goal, so no one can complain about it.” There are always question marks, but the good thing is that we have rules. The rules say it was a clear goal, at least that’s what they showed on TV.”
Moyes also admits: Tarkowski was lucky before
At the same time, however, the Dutchman also admitted that he would have been frustrated “if I had conceded the goal, but then I’m frustrated with the rule and not with the execution of the rule, because the referee’s execution of the rule was perfect. But the rule itself is frustrating because, in my opinion, you always have to help the offensive team.”
Moreover, the people who make the rules “are not there for the love of the game, they are only there to make the rules”.
But the offside decision was not the only controversial one. In the 11th minute, Tarkowski had hit Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister with an open sole and highly recklessly at the height of the shin and was lucky to be allowed to stay on the pitch in the scene just described – to the amazement of many, it was only a yellow card. At least here Moyes had to back down: “At first I thought it was a brilliant tackle. After I saw it again, we were lucky not to get a red card.”
