Arne Slot welcomed PGMOL’s admission that they made a mistake in not sending off Everton defender James Tarkowski in last night’s Merseyside derby but feels the error should not have been made in the first place.
Tarkowski scythed through Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister early in the game with referee Sam Barrott showing a yellow card – a decision that was upheld by VAR Paul Tierney.
The Times this morning reported refereeing body PGMOL have now acknowledged Tierney should have sent Barrott to the pitchside monitor and recommended he upgrade Tarkowski’s sanction to a red card.
📰 Table Of Contents
We all make mistakes – Slot
Slot refused to elaborate too much on the incident but said: “It is always good that if they think they have made a mistake that they acknowledge that. We all know that mistakes are being made during football matches – by us, by me, by referees.
“It is good that they acknowledge the mistake but it was so clear.”
Tarkowski was seen apologising to Mac Allister at the final whistle, after Liverpool had clinched a hard-earned 1-0 victory – with the Argentina midfielder seemingly happy to accept it.
Slot has had his run-ins with officials this season and was shown a red card after angrily confronting Michael Oliver at the end of the reverse fixture at Goodison Park.
"For Paul Tierney not to give it on VAR is SHOCKING"
"That's a straight red, ALL DAY LONG"No doubts from Jamie Carragher and Duncan Ferguson that James Tarkowski should have seen red for his challenge on Alexis Mac Allister ❌ pic.twitter.com/wqvNqqEurB
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025
Referees have been ‘okay’ this season
But the Dutchman does not believe the standard of refereeing in the Premier League is a major issue and was happy to accept mistakes are part of the game.
He added: “I think everywhere around the world mistakes are being made. This is something in the league where I came from. We are all aiming for a league without mistakes. I am aiming for a season without me making one mistake in the line-ups I make, but unfortunately this will probably never happen – not with me and not with refereeing decisions.
“We also have to accept them, which is sometimes very hard – as you noticed at the away game with Everton with me as well. I got the idea that David Moyes wasn’t happy as well after the game but he was a bit smarter than me and he went inside instead of going onto the pitch – probably experience.
“Mistakes are being made. I know for example, there is so much criticism of the referees in Holland. In this world, if there is a possibility to be negative, everyone wants to be negative so if a referee makes a wrong decision everyone will fall over it and if I make the wrong line-up, everyone will fall over it.
“I think it is quite an okay season for referees in England actually. Mistakes are being made. The most important thing is that it doesn’t influence the league table, but it is normal that it does. Mistakes are part of our lives, also from referees.”
James Tarkowski apologises to Alexis Mac Allister at full-time 🤝 pic.twitter.com/EO09rZ47Zx
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025
It was a brilliant tackle – Moyes
Moyes was furious that Diogo Jota’s winner was allowed to stand after Luis Diaz was deemed inactive in the build-up despite standing in an offside position.
But he defended Tarkowski’s challenge, claiming on Sky Sports: “First thought it was a brilliant tackle for a derby game. A tackle we would have seen a few years ago.
“I understand nowadays things are slightly different with follow-throughs. We might have got a bit lucky, [but] don’t put that with the goal because the goal was a different incident that won Liverpool the game.”
Table-toppers Liverpool now need just 13 points from their remaining eight games to be guaranteed of a record-equalling 20th top-flight title.
Next up is a trip to Fulham on Sunday.
