Everton's recent defeat to Aston Villa has reignited the debate surrounding the effectiveness of VAR and the standards of officiating in the Premier League. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has suggested that referee Sam Barrott should have reviewed a potential penalty incident involving Jesper Lindstrom and Morgan Rogers, a decision that could have significantly altered the match's outcome.
The return of David Moyes to Goodison Park began quietly until Ollie Watkins put Aston Villa ahead just six minutes into the second half, marking a challenging start for the Toffees under their former manager. Following this setback, Everton believed they had a legitimate claim for a penalty ten minutes later as they sought to equalise.
Tensions were already running high for the home side prior to Watkins’ goal, particularly after Amadou Onana escaped a second yellow card for a late challenge on Orel Mangala. As Everton intensified their efforts to find an equaliser, they earned a corner shortly after the hour mark, leading to a controversial moment. During the delivery, Dominic Calvert-Lewin fell to the ground amid a tangle of bodies, while Lindstrom was allegedly shoved by Rogers at the back post.
Despite VAR reviewing the incident, no penalty was awarded to Everton, prompting Hackett to express his concerns. He remarked, "The upper body challenges in the penalty area are more often than not ignored by referees in the Premier League. Grappling, holding and pushing appears to be acceptable. There is a push and I would have liked the referee to have visited the monitor to deliver a verdict, not the VAR as in this case. Let the referee judge if he thinks it's pushing. It is a push for me but modern referees are ignoring these incidents."
As a result of this defeat, Everton now finds themselves in 16th place in the Premier League, perilously close to the relegation zone with only a one-point buffer. In contrast, Aston Villa has risen to seventh in the standings, now just three points adrift of a coveted Champions League position.
Moyes, upon his return, is acutely aware of the immediate challenges facing the club. Urgent attention will be required to ensure they can navigate the perilous waters of relegation threats in the upcoming fixtures.