Fuming Everton contact PGMOL over controversial Stuart Attwell decisions in heated derby defeat as relegation looms
EVERTON want the Premier League’s referees governing body to explain why they were denied a penalty in Sunday’s Merseyside derby defeat.
The Toffees felt they should have had a spot kick when Joel Matip appeared to push Anthony Gordon to the ground in the Liverpool box early in the second half at Anfield.
It is understood the club have contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) board for clarification.
The incident came shortly before Andy Robertson scored an opener for the Reds, who went on to seal a 2-0 win with a late Divock Origi goal.
Everton were aggrieved as ref Stuart Attwell waved away their penalty appeal.
Their annoyance only deepened when VAR Darren England declined to intervene in the incident as he deemed an on-field review was not necessary.
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Everton want to know why the VAR check was so quick and did not warrant a break in play.
After the match, Toffees boss Frank Lampard said he felt if the same challenge had been on Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah then a penalty would have been given.
He added: “It was a penalty, you don’t get them at Anfield.
“If that was Mohamed Salah at the Kop end, I think [the referee] gives that. It was a foul on Anthony.”
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The defeat left Everton in the bottom-three ahead of Sunday’s visit of Chelsea.
Lampard’s side are now bookies’ favourites to go down after managerless Burnley climbed out of the drop zone and above them following a 1-0 win against Wolves.