Everton captain James Tarkowski appeared to be remorseful at full-time after his much-talked-about tackle on Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister led to widespread criticism on Wednesday night. Just after the tenth minute, the centre-back flew into a challenge which left the midfielder writhing around in agony.
While Tarkowski certainly won the ball, he also followed-through with his studs up. His boot would catch Mac Allister midway between his knee and foot, leading to calls for a red card from the home fans.
On-field referee Sam Barrott would dish out a yellow card, which many expected to be overturned by VAR, but such a reversal never came. Instead, the match was allowed to carry on.
After the game, TV cameras appeared to show Tarkowski apologising to the Liverpool midfielder - in a gesture which was graciously accepted. This, arguably, suggests the defender felt he'd gone "too far" with his challenge.
But should it have been a red card? Read the thoughts from our writers and national pundits below;
Mike Dean
Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Special, the former Premier League referee said: "That challenge has gone in and Tarkowski has played the ball. But, when you see the still, the follow-through is awful.
"He [Alexis Mac Allister] has not got his foot planted, luckily enough - but it's a red card. There is speed, intensity, force, the lot.
"He gets the ball but, the follow-through, that's a terrible challenge and for me he should have gone to the screen, should have sent Tarkowski off, 100 per cent. What the VAR has probably said is that he has got the ball, the follow-through has caught him.
"He will say normal footballing contact, but it's not, it's just a horrible challenge. He had to be sent to the screen, those kinds of challenges, as you ex-players will know, just can't happen in football because he could have broke his leg.
"It's 100 per cent red. It's just a red card all day, I'm astounded he hasn't given it."
Gary Neville
On co-commentary duties for Sky Sports at Anfield, former Manchester United captain Gary Neville added: "Most would say he's got the ball, but he knew exactly what he was doing, Tarkowski. Mac Allister was there, [Tarkowski was] doing an old-fashioned follow-through - take the lot.
"Yeah, he's [Tarkowski] lucky because he's gone high. If you're a defender you can put your foot on the floor if you want to, if you want to leave your studs in the air and catch someone's knee or shin, I think he's very lucky.
"I think it's a bad one, that's a potential leg-breaker. I think he's very lucky there, Tarkowski.
"There will be some saying it's a natural follow-through but, trust me, you do not need to follow-through like that with such force, it's high, he's very lucky. I wouldn't have complained at all if that was a red.
"We all used to do it. A classic get away with it, kick the ball away and follow-through, rather than putting it back on the ground."
Premier League Match Centre
Explaining their officials' decision on social media, the Premier League Match Centre wrote: "The referee's call of yellow card for a reckless foul by Tarkowski was checked by the VAR - with contact on the follow-through after Tarkowski had played the ball deemed to be reckless."
Jack Flintham
Since starting my job on the sports desk, I have been involved in several of these articles where an incident splits opinion. I would be shocked if this is one of those occasions.
That was the clearest red card imaginable - and how VAR does not overturn it - is really a mystery. Referee Barrott was booed off the field at half-time, but he has not been helped by those at Stockley Park.
I cannot see how any official who has seen those replays can claim that was merely a reckless challenge. It's a joke and it's fortunate that Mac Allister was able to carry on with the game afterwards.
We all want to see a bit of blood and thunder, especially in a derby match, but that crossed a line and it remains wince-inducing after sitting through the 1,000th replay of it. Tarkowski wanted to prove his devotion to the cause but he misplaced that passion entirely, and he's fortunate that the Premier League cannot give a retrospective ban.
Matthew Abbott
I'm yet to hear from anyone who doesn't believe Tarkowski was lucky to still be on the pitch after a quarter past eight on Wednesday night - regardless of any affiliation to either team. However, given the context, I understand why referee Barrott did not reach for a red card.
Officiating this for the first time, it's obvious he would not have wanted to add another dismissal to the derby's 25 sending-offs during the Premier League era, 17 of which were for Everton players - both records.
That's the whole point of the video assistant referee, though. Not being on the Anfield pitch should have provided Paul Tierney the distance to correct the call by allowing Barrott to review the challenge - that he did not is baffling in the extreme.
As is the fact that Tarkowski has gone approaching a decade without being sent off - dating back to his days playing for Brentford in the Championship. That remains the only straight red shown to the centre-back across almost 500 career appearances.
Isaac Seelochan
It was a baffling decision not to send Tarkowski off. The fact this is a decision still being talked about - despite not affecting the result - says everything about how bad a mistake it was.
The most concerning factor was VAR not noticing it or intervening, though. But the PGMOL now needs to focus on improving how the system is used rather than getting rid of it. VAR needs to be more efficient, with decisions being made at greater speed and with greater accuracy after a decision like this.
