Everton

Everton: Wilfried Zaha lucky to not pick up red after late challenge on Anthony Gordon

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Image for Everton: Wilfried Zaha lucky to not pick up red after late challenge on Anthony Gordon

The VAR officials and referee may have made a big mistake in the most recent Everton match by not sending Wilfried Zaha off. 

In the Premier League on Saturday, the Toffees enjoyed a rather fun afternoon at Goodison Park. Indeed, goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil saw the home team cruise to a 3-0 win.

However, the day was nearly soured somewhat when Crystal Palace player Zaha went leapt into win a header but arrived late with an elbow as he collided with Gordon.

The poor challenge prompted a melee between both sets of players. However, in the end, the referee opted just to handle the winger a yellow card and VAR didn’t intervene to upgrade the punishment.

TIF thoughts on Everton and the incident… 

Sky Sports journalist Ben Grounds called the challenge a ‘cheap shot’, while The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland referred to it as ‘naughty’. Everton fan page Royal Blue Mersey were incensed by it all, slamming the officials for offering up ‘spinless refereeing’.

In the end, though, it didn’t change the outcome of the game with Everton going on to win the game and even score another goal thanks to McNeil’s tidy link-up play with Alex Iwobi.

Still, had Zaha been sent off, the Toffees may have claimed an even more comfortable win. They won’t mind too much now as they sit midtable in the league with 13 points after 12 games.

Do you think it was red card?

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