Following the controversial Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025, Liverpool’s players and staff have come together to demand a replay of the match.
They argue that the game was plagued by a series of officiating errors and questionable calls that undermined the fairness of the competition.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Everton’s James Tarkowski scoring a dramatic equalizer in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Prior to this goal, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté appeared to be fouled, but neither referee Michael Oliver nor the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) addressed the incident. This missed foul has become a central point in Liverpool’s protests.
The situation escalated after the match, when a confrontation between Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré resulted in both players being sent off, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot also receiving a dismissal after an argument with the referee.
These incidents have further fueled Liverpool’s claims of biased officiating and poor management of the match.
In a joint statement, the Liverpool squad expressed their frustration: “From start to finish, the officiating was full of mistakes. It’s clear the circumstances were stacked against us. We demand a replay to preserve the integrity of the sport.”
The club is preparing to file a formal appeal to the Premier League, highlighting the string of officiating errors and the failure of VAR to correct the clear mistakes.
They contend that these errors had a significant impact on the match’s outcome and that a replay is necessary to ensure fairness.
While calls for replays due to officiating errors are rare and rarely successful, there have been precedents. For instance, a 2024 Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk was ordered to be replayed after a VAR error led to a misapplication of the laws, influencing the result.
Liverpool’s demand for a replay reflects the club’s commitment to fairness and the integrity of football. They stress that their protest is not just about a single result but about addressing broader issues in officiating and the use of VAR technology.
As the football community awaits the Premier League’s response, this controversy has sparked renewed debates about VAR’s effectiveness and the standards of officiating in top-level football.
Liverpool’s stance has gained support from various sectors, with many calling for a comprehensive review of the match and the decisions that shaped it.
The outcome of Liverpool’s appeal could have significant implications for the future of VAR and the handling of officiating errors in football.
It remains to be seen how the Premier League will address these concerns and what measures will be taken to prevent similar controversies in the future.
