Amadou Onana's handball in Everton loss to Man City is a 'modern-day penalty'

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher dissects the flashpoints from the festive football, including incidents from Man City's win at Everton, Chelsea's victory against Crystal Palace, Liverpool's win at Burnley and Bernd Leno's ball boy push in Fulham's loss at Bournemouth.

INCIDENT: Manchester City were awarded a second-half penalty in their 3-1 win at Everton after Amadou Onana was judged to have handballed from Nathan Ake's shot.

DERMOT SAYS: "I think it's a modern-day penalty. If you see this kind of thing happen, the directive is, is the ball striking an arm above the shoulder or the head? It's that high. The argument is, is it too close? Has he got time to react? But the minute I saw the replay I just said this is going to be given, there's no doubt about that.

"The referee gave it on field because of the assistant's direction. It goes to VAR to check but it's never going to be overturned."

DYCHE REACTION: Everton boss Sean Dyche was understandably disappointed with the Onana handball decision that allowed Julian Alvarez to put City 2-1, with the Toffees manager claiming it was "not deliberate".

DERMOT SAYS: "I think he [Dyche] makes lots and lots of good points, but, unfortunately, it's a problem created for the referees. Offside was the big talking point but now it's handball which they've tried to make it so precise. Is the arm in this position? Is the arm above the head, or is it above the shoulder? Has it come this far?

"I think by trying to make it so precise it's made it more complicated for the referees and they've actually become the victims of this directive and because of that I think whilst it is like it is then penalties are always going to be given. That's almost moved to what it's like in the