Mike Dean believes Ibrahima Konate should have been sent off for Liverpool in their 2-0 Merseyside derby win against Everton on Saturday (21 October).

The France defender was booked for dragging Amadou Onana to the ground early in the second half but avoided a second yellow 15 minutes later for a similar challenge on Beto.

The Toffees had already had Ashley Young sent off when Konate avoided punishment and was subsequently withdrawn for Joel Matip.

Dean stated on Soccer Saturday (21 October) that Craig Pawson was incorrect in not retrieving the yellow card from his pocket.

I believe it is a second yellow. You consistently send a player off for two fouls in the first half. He completed two in less than ten minutes. I guarantee you he’ll be substituted, Dean stated, according to the Liverpool Echo.

This season, it seems like there isn’t a weekend that goes by without a perplexing decision in the Premier League, and this one ranks among the worst.

Jurgen Klopp requested a replay after Luis Diaz’s goal was incorrectly disallowed in a 2-1 loss to Tottenham prior to the international break due to a VAR blunder, but here is proof that bad rulings tend to even themselves out.

Not that Everton will be comforted by that old adage after losing to their opponents in the Merseyside derby, with Konate perplexingly remaining on the pitch for two similar infractions that were both clearly yellow-card worthy.

There were few objections that Ashley Young deserved to be sent off, but what Sean Dyche and Everton fans – and football fans in general – want is consistency. Referees have a difficult job; no decision will ever be perfect, but standards must improve quickly.