Tarkowski calls for common sense in offside decisions by referees

James Tarkowski believes that Premier League referees should be permitted to exercise common sense when it comes to making contentious offside decisions.

David Moyes and his players felt they were unjustly denied a legitimate goal during their 1-0 win against Ipswich Town at the weekend.

Thierno Barry thought he had extended his team's lead midway through the second half, but referee Stuart Attwell was informed by VAR that Brennan Johnson was offside in front of Christian Walton, despite both players being in the opposite half of the goal from where the ball entered.

Fortunately for Everton, this did not impact the final result, but Tarkowski insists that a change is necessary.

“My opinion is that they probably should be allowed common sense from the referee to say he is obviously getting nowhere near it," he stated.

“But the law doesn't allow them to do that, so he has got his hands tied behind his back a little bit there.

“The refs are intelligent people and they should be allowed to decide whether they think the goalkeeper has got a chance of saving it or not, but it is what it is.” Barry had already given the Blues a first-half lead when a Tarkowski effort struck him and found the net.

The forward has shown a resurgence this season, with his early form greatly contrasting with last year, when he had to wait until December to net his first goal for the club.

He now boasts five goals this season, and his development has certainly drawn the attention of his captain.

“He ruined it for me!

"No, it dropped, and I just thought the situation were was in,” Tarkowski remarked.

“It dropped and I just thought I would try and get a shot on target and luckily it hit Thierno and goes in.

“I am pleased for him as he keeps getting himself in positions to score goals and sometimes as a striker it hits you and goes in, so fair play to him because there is a lot on him as he is our only out and out forward.

“There is a lot of expectation on him, but he’s got a few goals for us now, so I am really pleased for him.” Meanwhile, at the other end, the Blues have maintained five clean sheets across all competitions this season, and Tarkowski attributes this to a team effort.

"We've always prided ourselves on our defensive solidity and we're going to continue that," he told evertonfc.com.

"I know you mentioned us at the back there, but there's a lot of work that goes on in front of us.

Harrison [Armstrong] four or five times made some terrific tackles and was tracking back for us.

“We want to build from that base, really.

Try and stop as many goals as possible and that gives us a chance of being in the game."

Source: Liverpool Echo