The Premier League have laid out the reason why James Tarkowski avoided a red card for a horror challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside derby. It was a typically feisty affair, with big tackles flying in from the very start of the match. Tarkowski was keen to get stuck in and was fortunate to avoid being sent off for a heavy lunge in the opening exchanges.

Moments after blocking a shot, the Everton defender flew into a bone-crunching tackle on Mac Allister, winning the ball but catching the Liverpool man with his boot. He was shown a yellow card by referee Sam Barrott and VAR quickly intervened to check whether there was serious foul play.

The on-field decision was ultimately upheld, meaning Tarkowski avoided an early bath, and the Premier League have now explained why.

Via the Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter), they said: "The referee’s call of yellow card for a reckless foul by Tarkowski was checked by the VAR, with contact on the follow through after Tarkowski had played the ball deemed to be reckless."

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was convinced that Tarkowski should have been given his marching orders, describing the challenge as a 'potential leg-breaker'.

He added: "I think he's very lucky there. There will be those saying it’s a natural follow through. Trust me, being a defender, you do not need to follow through like that and with such force. It's high. Very lucky."

Meanwhile, on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock said: "This challenge is nasty from James Tarkowski. He wins the ball, but follows through on Alexis Mac Allister.

"Tarkowski knows exactly what he's doing in that situation. I think it is so dangerous. It is out of control from Tarkowski."

The football laws describe serious foul play as 'a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality'.

They say that 'any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent, is guilty of serious foul play'.

In the event Tarkowski had been shown a red card, it would have been his first top-flight dismissal. Over the years, he has received a total of 62 bookings, the most of any Premier League player who has never been sent off.

There was another big VAR call just moments after Tarkowski's challenge which saw Everton denied an opening goal. Beto raced onto a long ball over the top before firing past Caoimhin Kelleher, but the 27-year-old was deemed to have been offside.