Liverpool Edge Past Everton as Jota’s Goal Sparks Offside Controversy
What a night at Anfield! The Merseyside derby was everything we expected—intense, dramatic, and filled with controversy. Liverpool emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over Everton, but the major talking point wasn’t just the goal—it was the offside rule that allowed it to stand.
Diogo Jota’s second-half strike proved to be the winner, restoring Liverpool’s commanding 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. But Everton boss David Moyes wasn’t having any of it. He was convinced Jota’s goal should have been ruled out due to Luis Díaz’s involvement in the build-up. Díaz, coming from an offside position, pounced on a loose ball from James Tarkowski’s clearance and set up Jota for the winner. But according to the rulebook, it wasn’t offside because Díaz wasn’t deemed to be interfering with play. Technicalities, right? And Liverpool took full advantage.
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts. “Do I like the rule? No. I hate it. It doesn’t help attacking teams,” he admitted. But of course, he wasn’t complaining about how it worked in Liverpool’s favor this time around.
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Moyes, on the other hand, was left frustrated. “Liverpool were the better team, I won’t argue that,” he said. “But losing to a goal like that? It’s disappointing. It was clearly offside. It’s an easy decision.”
The game wasn’t short on other talking points either. Just 11 minutes in, Everton’s James Tarkowski made a crunching tackle on Alexis Mac Allister. It looked dangerous, but he escaped with just a yellow card. Later, Everton thought they had their moment when Beto put the ball in the net, only to see the offside flag go up. That was the kind of night it was—full of near misses and high tension.
Liverpool, who had suffered back-to-back defeats to PSG and Newcastle in other competitions, needed this win to stay on track for the Premier League title. And they delivered when it mattered. Jota’s goal was his first since January, and he was thrilled to be back on the scoresheet. “Hopefully, this gives us some momentum,” he said. “We need to keep winning.”
Everton fought hard and had their chances. Beto hit the post, and Pickford made some crucial saves to keep them in the game. But in the end, Liverpool’s quality—and maybe a little bit of luck—saw them through.
As the Reds march closer to another league title, the debate over the offside rule rages on. One thing’s for sure—this derby will be remembered for more than just the scoreline.
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