James Tarkowski death threats revealed after Liverpool v Everton flashpoint
James Tarkowski was lucky to stay on the pitch on Wednesday night after a horrific challenge on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister.
The Everton defender was given an 11th-minute yellow card by referee Sam Barrott, with VAR deciding not to intervene despite the reckless nature of the tackle.
PGMOL have now acknowledged their mistake, and agree that the centre-back should’ve been dismissed for serious foul play.
Later in the contest, Tarkowski was involved in another controversial moment, as Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the derby.
The Englishman felt he had been impeded by Luis Diaz, who was in an offside position, before his failed clearance directly led to Liverpool’s winning goal.
Tarkowski’s wife hits out on Instagram after Liverpool v Everton
Since the game, it has been revealed that Tarkowski has been on the end of “disgraceful” abuse on social media.
The centre-half, who scored the dramatic late equaliser against Liverpool at Goodison Park earlier this season, has even been subject to death threats after Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
Samantha Tarkowski has been married to the Everton man since 2023, and has expressed her disgust at the online hate her husband has received.
Speaking on her Instagram account on 3 April, she said: “I wasn’t actually going to say anything because we usually just laugh if off but f*** it.
| Played | GD | Points | |
| 1. Liverpool | 30 | +43 | 73 |
| 2. Arsenal | 30 | +30 | 61 |
“The level of abuse my husband is receiving – wishing death on him, vile comments about me, about us as a couple, and about him as a person – is beyond disgusting.
“People forget that he is more than just a footballer. He is a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, and most importantly, the father of our two children.
“He goes out there and does his job and does it very f****** well yet he’s subjected to so much hate. For those acting like he deliberately set out to hurt someone – are you serious?!
“Football moves at speed, and tackles are split-second decisions. No player goes out there to injure someone and do you think any player would feel good about it if they did?
“But the pure s*** messages, the threats? That’s intentional. That’s on you. Football is a sport, but the way some so-called ‘fans’ behave is disgraceful.
“The abuse, the threats – it’s not passion, it’s pathetic. We’re real people, and this goes far beyond football.”
Line crossed by small minority of Liverpool fans
The intense rivalry and hatred between Liverpool and Everton is one of the many reasons why the Merseyside derby is so iconic, but this situation is an example of a small minority of supporters taking it too far.
Most Liverpool fans will have enjoyed getting one over on their arch rivals, after Wednesday night’s victory, but the focus is now on the few who have overstepped the mark.
As a club, Liverpool must move to stamp out this type of online abuse, as it paints the whole fanbase in a bad light.
Arne Slot’s side have given their supporters so much to cheer about in the Premier League this season, with the Reds sitting eight points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the table.
In a campaign where Liverpool look destined to lift their 20th league title, it is important their performances on the pitch aren’t overshadowed by the actions of those in the stands.