LIVERPOOL fans have been left fuming with the Premier League's VAR statement for Everton's late equaliser in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night. James Tarkowski thundered home a controversial equaliser in 98th minute of the feisty 2-2 draw, leading to a VAR check. Liverpool players had complained of a potential offside and foul in the build-up to the goal, but after a lengthy VAR Check the goal stood.
![[Everton's James Tarkowski celebrates during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/evertons-james-tarkowski-reacts-english-971480798_05526a.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
A statement released on the Premier League's Match Centre X account cleared up the offside. It read: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR- who established that Doucoure was in an onside position in the build-up.". However, there was no mention of a check for a foul on Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate by Everton's Beto. The omission had left the Red half of Merseyside furious, with many Liverpool fans taking to social media to vent their frustrations.
![[James Tarkowski scoring a goal during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-evertons-james-tarkowski-scores-971476739.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
One wrote: "Didn't check for the foul though". While another added: "We ignoring pushing nowadays? Useless.". A third commented: "What about the blatant foul after the offside?". CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. And a fourth fumed: "Yeah, what about the foul? Hmm??? Abolish the PGMOL". Liverpool fans were hoping that a "push" from Beto into the back of Konate would be seen as a foul and rule the goal out.
![[Everton's James Tarkowski celebrates a goal as fans rush the pitch.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/celebrates-scoring-sides-second-goal-971476889.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
However, the decision ultimately was't given in their favour. Tarkowski's late goal led to drama on the pitch as Toffees supporters spilled onto the playing surface to celebrate a point in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. While tempers flared between players too as Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure came to blows in front of the fans in the stands, leading to a mass brawl involving both sets of players.
![[VAR message on a stadium scoreboard: Checking goal, possible offside.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/var-message-possible-offside-displayed-971477407.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
