Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Sean Dyche fumes at decision not to send Ibrahima Konate off in Merseyside derby defeat | Football News

Everton Manager Seethes as Ibrahima Konate Avoids Second Yellow in Liverpool’s 2-0 Victory in Merseyside Derby

Everton Manager Sean Dyche erupted with anger over Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate escaping a second yellow card in the Toffees’ defeat at Anfield in the Merseyside derby, labeling it an “impossibility of football”.

The away team was in disbelief as referee Craig Pawson failed to show Konate a second yellow card when he fouled Beto on a counter-attack with the score tied at 0-0.

This decision was particularly significant as Everton’s Ashley Young had already been sent off in the first half for two bookings.

After Konate avoided a red card, Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp substituted the French defender with Joel Matip. Shortly after, Dyche received a booking himself for persistently protesting against the officials.

“The fact that they didn’t receive [a red card] is an impossibility of football,” Dyche expressed to beIN Sport after the game. “It’s unfortunate that we continue to discuss the officials, but it seems to be a recurring theme in most of my interviews.”

“I don’t think it’s rocket science today. The fact that their manager immediately substituted their center-back is a clear indication of what he thought. Everyone in the stadium and watching at home thought the same thing. But those who have the authority didn’t think that way,” Dyche continued.

“The officiating was peculiar and made it a bizarre game.”

While analyzing the incident on Soccer Saturday, former Premier League referee Mike Dean stated, “I think it’s a second yellow, for consistency. You’ve sent off a player for two fouls in the first half. He’s done two in 10 minutes.”

Dyche later expressed in his press conference, “I have seen the footage, and within a second, he is saying, ‘No chance.’ He didn’t even give himself time to think. If he had taken just 10 seconds, I bet he would have given a yellow card. Especially in the modern game. It’s just bizarre to me.”

“I don’t agree with the VAR rule on this. I believe that’s where VAR should intervene. Just say, ‘Yellow, yellow, yellow.’ Because that’s what VAR should be there for – to rectify such situations,” Dyche argued.

“I end up getting in trouble. I shouldn’t be, because I should be able to express when the referee has had an off day. I’m simply saying what everyone else thinks.”

Despite the controversial decisions, Everton ultimately lost the game with Mohamed Salah scoring from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after Michael Keane’s handball. Salah then sealed the victory with a second goal in stoppage time on a counter-attack.

Dyche acknowledged that he had no complaints regarding the penalty decision from a laws of the game standpoint but stated his preference for the previous version of the handball rule.

“They scored a goal from a penalty: those are challenging ones now, with a loose arm. I preferred the rule as it was when it had to be a deliberate act of handball – that’s not a deliberate act. But they’ve changed it, and we’re aware of the new rule,” Dyche added.

“But the fact remains that at 0-0, it’s incredible that they still had 11 players on the pitch.”

Klopp: You Learn to Move Past Such Decisions

Meanwhile, Liverpool Manager Klopp empathized with Everton’s grievances regarding Konate’s red card but suggested that the Toffees will eventually move on.

Klopp had experienced his fair share of unfavorable refereeing decisions when

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