Even Jurgen Klopp knew derby truth as officials hurt Everton in way Liverpool could not

Even Jurgen Klopp knew. As the boos rang out from the away end at Anfield while fourth official Thomas Bramall displayed the number five on his electronic board, Ibrahima Konate walked off the pitch. He was to join the substitutes bench when, in reality, he should have been heading down the tunnel for an early bath.

Moments earlier and with the game still goalless the centre back, already on a yellow card, was adjudged to have tripped Beto as Everton sprung a counter attack. Four stands gasped in anticipation of the second yellow, and then the red card, being produced. Referee Craig Pawson instead opted for leniency.

It was a baffling, critical decision that left Sean Dyche furious and prevented a brave Everton performance from getting a positive result that would have been deserved. It was even more astonishing given the inconsistency it represented - Everton played this game for an hour with 10 men after Ashley Young was not afforded the same clemency. When VAR later intervened to lead to the Mo Salah penalty that decided the 243rd Merseyside derby, the cruelty of the decision-making only intensified.

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After the VAR failure that cost Liverpool dear at Tottenham Hotspur so recently, many Everton supporters spent the build up to this game wondering whether a controversial call might cost them at Anfield. The joke became a reality. VAR could not intervene - the technology is unavailable for consideration of yellow cards. But Dyche and his dugout - one of whom was booked soon after - had every right to be angered.

Up to that point, Everton had been comfortable. Even