Sean Dyche bemoans 'bizarre nature of the modern game' after decisions hurt Everton against Liverpool in derby

Everton manager Sean Dyche described refereeing decisions in Liverpool’s 2-0 derby win as “the bizarre nature of the modern game.”

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Ashley Young was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Young’s first yellow was for tripping Luis Diaz, a relatively soft decision that Dyche disagreed with, though he accepted that the second yellow, for another more dangerous foul on Diaz in the 37th minute, was a fair decision.

However Ibrahima Konate might have seen red on a different day, as he escaped censure for a trip on Beto when he was already on a yellow.

Referee Craig Pawson’s decision to let him off was swiftly followed by Jurgen Klopp’s move to substitute him for Joel Matip to protect him from any danger.

"My take is it’s the bizarre nature of the modern game," Dyche told TNT Sports. "How they at 0-0 have 11 on the pitch, I don’t think anyone in the stadium knows.

"His manager certainly didn’t, because he took him off straight away. He realised, took him off. It changed the game quite obviously, that’s the way it goes."

Asked about Young's red card, Dyche replied: "The problem is, how do you judge now? Because their player does a ridiculous foul that he should be yellow-carded for. Probably worse than Ashley Young’s in the first - the first one - [although] the second one’s got to be a yellow card.

"But the first one, there’s no point, I’ll get in trouble. I don’t know how I got a yellow card in fact. My staff all got yellow-carded, it’s impossible to all get yellow-carded today with that performance, but we did."

He added: "Their manager is a fine judge because he quite obviously looked and thought, ‘Better get him off.’ That was the proof in itself."

Dyche believed that the penalty, awarded against Michael Keane for a handball was in keeping with the more harshly applied rules these days, but praised his players for their efforts.

He said: "Beyond that, I’ve got a group of players who’ve given everything. It’s very difficult to have 10 men in any game, especially in this game. I think we did well, especially in the second half, to quell the game, calm the game. Take the energy out of it, take the sting out of it.

"Everything was going fine. A loose arm, we know what happens now. The rest of the game, it gets away from us. Last-minute goal, we’re chasing the game. But massive decisions form the officials, and it’s a head-scratcher.

"We kept it down to minimal chances of quality and in general. The second-half game plan when you’re down to 10 men, it’s working, the feel of it’s working.

"We’re looking for set-pieces, breakaways, and then that big decision. It changes the feel for them, I would feel amazed if they didn’t think they got away with one, and then they got a penalty and it’s very difficult. Proud of the players’ efforts. We’re still a work in progress."

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