Everton were left furious after their penalty appeal was turned down during the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. The Blues appealed for a spot-kick when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went to ground following a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Curtis Jones.
Referee Chris Kavanagh waved away the initial appeals, and the decision was upheld after a VAR check. Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton, on commentary for Sky Sports, agreed with the call, stating it was a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge and questioning whether Dewsbury-Hall would have reached the ball.
Moments later, Everton thought they had taken the lead when Iliman Ndiaye slotted home a cross from Jake O'Brien, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR intervention. Less than two minutes later, Liverpool took the lead through Mohamed Salah's first-time effort around the half-hour mark.
Both sides entered the match seeking a win to boost their European qualification hopes. Everton, in 10th place in the Premier League, could have moved to within two points of sixth-placed Liverpool with a victory.
