LIVERPOOL, England — James Tarkowski don show wetin be ‘sorry’ on Wednesday night after im tackle wey nearly injure Alexis Mac Allister for di Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton.
For di 11th minute of di match, Tarkowski tackle high on Mac Allister’s ankle, leaving di Liverpool player writhing in pain. Grim replays show say Mac Allister dey lucky say no serious injury happen to am after di challenge.
Referee Sam Barrott give Tarkowski yellow card, but VAR wey dey suppose help no recommend to review di decision. Fans and pundits don dey wonder how VAR fit ignore such a serious incident.
After di match, Tarkowski and Mac Allister dey seen near pitch side, with reporters like talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham commenting say it look like Tarkowski dey apologize to Mac Allister. “I saw James Tarkowski and Alexis McAllister share a moment,” Durham tok. “It looked to me like Tarkowski was apologising. I’m not sure McAllister was ready to accept di apology.”
Di tackle don receive plenty backlash, with former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson calling am a “red card all day long.” Di Match Centre release statement wey explain why dem no upgrade di tackle to red card: “Di referee’s call of yellow card for a reckless foul by Tarkowski was checked by di VAR.”
Di incident don become di main gist of di match, where Liverpool win 1-0, further stretching dia lead on top di Premier League table. Both Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy criticize di tackle and di VAR decision. O’Hara questioned: “What’s di point in VAR?” Cundy added: “That tackle get no place for modern football. Mac Allister dey very lucky and Tarkowski too.”
As di match continue, Liverpool managed to secure di three points to maintain dia 12-point lead over Arsenal, wey dey second position.
Even as Mac Allister express no hard feelings towards Tarkowski after their touch, di discussion about VAR and di officiating decisions no go end anytime soon as pundits and fans demand clarity on how such dangerous tackles dey escape stricter punishment.
Liverpool dey on track to win di Premier League under di new management of Arne Slot, significantly improving since he take over from Jurgen Klopp.
