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Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards all agreed Craig Pawson made one major error in the Merseyside derby whilst singling Everton out for praise
Ed Couchman speaks with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Robert Preston at a Podcast Fireside Chat at Spotify Supper London at In Horto on September 14, 2023Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards all believed Ibrahima Konate should have been sent off for Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside derby, with the latter pausing to reflect on Everton’s positive display at Anfield.
Liverpool won the battle between the old cross-city rivals, Mohamed Salah scoring twice late on after his team pressed hard all game. Wherever the weekend’s hosts seem to go at the minute refereeing controversies follow, and that was the case again in the derby.
Ashley Young was dismissed with a second booking in the 37th minute, scything down Luis Diaz for both, however Konate escaped the same fate having made cynical challenges on Amadou Onana and Beto in the second half.
Towards the end of their discussion about the match on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, Richards kickstarted a debate that led Lineker to suggest referee Craig Pawson got both calls wrong.
“We have to give a little bit of credit to Everton before we move on. [James] Tarkowski, [Jarrad] Branthwaite I thought were sensational at the back,” the former Manchester City defender began.
“I know people look at the result and say ‘Liverpool 2-0’, but it wasn’t really the story of the game.”
Then former Everton man Lineker responded: “Well, the story of the game was the tale of lots of yellow cards, the wrong player getting sent off and another not for very similar offences.”
“Yeah, Konate was very, very fortunate and I think any other day another referee gives him another yellow card and he’s off,” Shearer agreed, though wasn’t able to uphold his co-host’s belief about Young’s dismissal.
He continued: “Ashley Young was correctly given two yellow cards, it was a stupid challenge when you’re on the yellow, but if the referee is doing that then he has to give Konate a second yellow card. He clearly wipes him out.
“He was under huge pressure, the referee – at Anfield, derby game, big decision, and he got it wrong for me.”
Richards concurred, replying: “Agreed, but I like the way Everton are shaping up as well. We mentioned the cards and the referee got it wrong on this occasion but [Dwight] McNeil’s form, I like what [James] Garner is doing in midfield with Onana and [Abdoulaye] Doucoure, just in front of them, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin back fit so they’re building something.
“Jack Harrison as well on that right-hand side. If they defend like that, now we’re starting to see the signs of what they can do this season.”
On top of the display against the Reds, Everton have three wins in four matches before the international break to build upon heading towards the next month.
As his parting statement, Lineker said: “A bit of encouragement for Everton fans, who have suffered quite a bit over the last few seasons. Not to get carried away, obviously, but certainly better.”
