“Let’s be Completely Honest” – Dave Davis Slams VAR Over ‘Incompetence’ in Liverpool’s Victory Against Everton | OneFootball

VAR, Paul Tierney, and the Liverpool vs Everton Fallout: An Anfield Index Dissection

In the latest episode of Post Conference Presser on Anfield Index, Dave Davis delivered a fiery and uncompromising verdict on the refereeing decisions in Liverpool’s 1-0 Merseyside Derby victory over Everton. His insights, particularly regarding VAR official Paul Tierney, laid bare the frustration shared by many fans over the current state of Premier League officiating.

Officiating “Atrocious” – A Night to Forget for the Referee

Davis didn’t hold back when discussing the general officiating standard in the match, describing it as “atrocious” and asserting that “you can’t even say bad – that does not do it justice.” From his vantage point inside Anfield, Davis observed that “repeatedly J Diaz, different players [were] fouled time after time and the referee just waved play on.”

He labelled the match “not even a difficult game to referee,” expressing disbelief at how simple decisions were missed. Though the match referee’s name escaped him, Davis remarked that the official appeared “newly promoted, over-promoted… just completely out [of] his depth.”

Paul Tierney, the “Boogeyman” of VAR

But the real venom was reserved for Paul Tierney, who was on VAR duty. Davis pulled no punches: “How Paul Tierney can watch the replay of that Tarkowski challenge on Mac Allister and not come to a red card decision – something needs to be done about that.”

He even invoked the name of Everton legend Duncan Ferguson, pointing out that “even Big Dunc, the man with the Everton badge on his arm, was clear and said it’s an easy decision… no doubt about it.”

Tierney’s failure to act on the tackle had Davis wondering about deeper issues: “To watch that and not give a red card to me screams gross incompetence.” He continued: “In a workplace, we can all make mistakes… but gross misconduct would usually constitute dismissal.”

Arne Slot’s Classy Restraint

While Davis’s critique was searing, he acknowledged that new Liverpool manager Arne Slot took a more magnanimous route. Slot, who held his press conference earlier than usual, said about the PGMOL apology: “It’s good if they made a mistake they acknowledged it… mistakes are made in a football match – by us, by me, by referees.”

Photo: IMAGO

Davis admired Slot’s focus, noting, “He didn’t pile on. There was a class to Arne Slot as you’d expect.” The Dutchman’s approach, Davis felt, showed leadership focused on the bigger picture: “It’s focused on the next game and next points – the league title and all that.”

Broader Implications for Liverpool and Everton

This refereeing episode goes beyond one tackle or one game. For Liverpool, contending for the title, every point and incident matters. For Everton, embroiled in survival and battling perception, decisions like this sting from another angle.

Davis’s call was unambiguous: “I’m just struggling to see how Paul Tierney now has any credibility at all.” While some might deem that an overreaction, Davis challenged critics to remove their biases and examine the decision in isolation. “Let’s just be completely honest about that,” he said.

As Liverpool look to Fulham next, the VAR controversy lingers in the background, casting a long shadow over what should have been a routine Merseyside win. But thanks to Slot’s calm and Davis’s analysis, Anfield Index listeners were given both the fire and the fairness in the post-match breakdown.