Both Everton and Aston Villa supporters got understandably frustrated during the lengthy VAR check

Both Everton and Aston Villa supporters got understandably frustrated during the lengthy VAR check

Both Everton and Aston Villa supporters got understandably frustrated during the lengthy VAR check

Calvert-Lewin’s big chance

Everton fought to have Dominic Calvert-Lewin available for this game, appealing against his red card at Crystal Palace and in the eyes of seemingly everyone in the football world other than Chris Kavanagh (who

thought is challenge was fine in real time) and VAR, common sense prevailing with the decision being overturned but ultimately the striker was unable to take advantage of his reprieve.

The nine-man for the Blues gave it his all to lead the line, but in the end, he would only have one chance, and it was a very welcome one.

Calvert-Lewin was set up one-on-one with Emiliano Martinez after Arnaut Danjuma picked him out. Martinez had even had his back to the ball when the center-forward gained possession,

but Calvert-Lewin’s shot went too close to the Aston Villa goalkeeper.

The opportunity that Calvert-Lewin converted during their previous meeting in the Carabao Cup in September was uncannily identical to this one.

But, he was up against the Argentine World Cup winner here, who may have had a psychological advantage over him following their collision in August, as opposed to his old teammate Robin Olsen back then.

The 26-year-old scored the game-winning goal against West Ham United in October to become just the fourth player in Premier League history to achieve the 50-goal milestone for the Blues.

However, he has now gone The 26-year-old scored the game-winning goal against West Ham United in October to become just the fourth player in Premier League history to achieve the 50-goal milestone for the Blues.

However, he has now gone 13 games without scoring. Considering his background, maybe they may resume soon, and for now at least he is maintaining his fitness.13 games without scoring.

Considering his background, maybe they may resume soon, and for now at least he is maintaining his fitness.

“Run, run, whoever you may be,” went the Everton battle cry from the Gwladys Street after James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alex Moreno by the corner flag. But in truth it was the centre-back’s on-going ding-dong with

Ollie Watkins that dominated proceedings here.

Tarkowski went into the book for his full-blooded challenge on Moreno, who was earlier denied a winner by VAR, and then waved in his team-mates to join the resultant melee as he wisely took a step back as tempers

frayed. However, it seems as though the Blues defender was taking out his frustrations on the left-back because the chance presented itself rather than with the striker he went hammer and tongs with for the best part

of 90 minutes.

As well as being a dangerous finisher – Watkins was denied a 50th Premier League goal himself by a smart save from Pickford when fashioning a chance out of nothing in the first half – he’s also able to give as good as

he gets when it comes to a physical duel, picking up a yellow card himself when his flailing elbow caught Tarkowski just above the eye. The 31-year-old defender, who has been an ever-present in the Premier League

since coming to Everton 18 months ago, raced back up to his feet once his treatment was complete but while he continued to nullify the threat of Watkins by shackling him well, it was others who felt his full force,

including team-mate Vitalii Mykolenko, who predictably came out second best in an accidental clash of heads between the pair.

VAR causing frustration again

Be honest, if the decision to disallow Aston Villa’s goal following a VAR check had gone against Everton after all that’s happened with Sean Dyche’s side and refereeing decisions this season, you’d have been fuming

wouldn’t you?

This correspondent certainly would have been. To his credit, Unai Emery was polite and respectful about the controversial call in his post-match press conference and insisted

he accepted the decision completely. but if that’s true then he’s a better man than me in that respect.

While decisions like Calvert-Lewin’s now revoked sending off are a case of trying to get black and white from infinite shades of grey, with the consensus of perception proving the key,

offside – like the entire ball crossing the line for a goal – is ultimately the application of science. You’re either offside or you’re not, but at what point is a pedant’s paradise preferable

to the joy of scoring a goal in a moment in time?

The decision took so long to reach that when Villa fans started chanting: “VAR – f****** s***”, the Evertonians joined in.

This one went the Blues’ way but the system is still far from satisfactory in the eyes of so many.

 

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