Ally McCoist says referee Michael Oliver ‘got one wrong’ and it really cost Liverpool against Everton
Ally McCoist says referee Michael Oliver ‘got one wrong’ and it really cost Liverpool against Everton
Liverpool found themselves in a real battle during the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.
Ally McCoist says referee Michael Oliver ‘got one wrong’ and it really cost Liverpool against Everton
Finally playing their game in hand after more than two months, the Reds had the chance to go nine points clear in the Premier League table with a win.
Things did not start well for Liverpool, though, with Everton keen to take advantage of a hostile atmosphere at Goodison.
And just as they did last season, the Toffees got themselves into a first-half lead.
Ally McCoist says referee Michael Oliver ‘got one wrong’ and it really cost Liverpool against Everton
This time it was Beto who delivered for Everton, sliding in between the Reds defence a little too easily to fire beyond Alisson Becker.
As spotted by Ally McCoist on commentary for TNT Sports, though, the goal was an incredibly fortunate one from Everton’s point of view.
Ally McCoist points out Michael Oliver mistake
It was a terrible way for Liverpool to start Wednesday’s game. Behind inside 10 minutes at Goodison.
There was no excuse for the defending from Arne Slot’s team. Nobody was alert for Jarrad Branthwaite’s quick free-kick and it was far too easy for Beto to finish.
However, there was certainly an argument that the free-kick should never have been awarded in the first place.
It was Iliman Ndiaye who won it, ghosting away from Alexis Mac Allister and going to ground.
But replays showed that there was clearly no contact made from Mac Allister on the Everton man. Watching it back after the fact, McCoist agreed that Liverpool had a right to be aggreived.
“They’ve got a point there,” said the co-commentator. “It looks like Michael Oliver got that one wrong.”
Pundits disagree over Reds free-kick
McCoist was absolutely bang on. There was no contact here whatsoever. Ndiaye bought the foul and Oliver fell for it.
And as the pundits convened to debate at half-time, the Red and Blue corners of the studio disagreed. Surprise surprise.
“I think when you slow it down it doesn’t look like there’s much contact but we see these free-kicks given on a weekly basis,” said former Everton captain Phil Jagielka. “He’s drawn the foul.”
“It wasn’t a free-kick,” countered Steve McManaman. “But they’ve got no qualms, throw-ins, free-kicks, corners can go against you. They should have defended better.”
On the money, Macca.
