Everton news: Expert issues controversial verdict as Frank Lampard fumes – ‘referees are influenced’
Noel Whelan has insisted Everton boss Frank Lampard is right to suggest refereeing decisions are harder to come by when playing one of the Premier League’s top sides.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested referees can be influenced by the “noise, atmosphere, and magnitude of a game”.
Everton fell 2-0 against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (24 April), but were denied a penalty in the second half when Joel Matip looked to have brought down Anthony Gordon with the scores still level at 0-0.
As quoted by The Telegraph (24 April), Lampard insisted a spot-kick would have been awarded if Reds star Mohamed Salah had been on the receiving end of the challenge.
He suggested top teams are more likely to receive favourable decisions from match officials.
Whelan insisted the former Chelsea star is right – claiming “everyone outside the top six has experienced it”.
“I think he’s right – but it’s the same sometimes when you go to Everton,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“It was a big, loud crowd, derby game – and yes, some of those decisions go against you because of that.
“Lampard’s right. Everyone outside of the top six has experienced it. When you go to these clubs, Man City, Man United, Liverpool – those decisions become harder to get.
“You’d like to think things will level themselves out, but Everton really needed the points on this particular day.
“It happens. The referees can be influenced by the noise, the atmosphere, the magnitude of the game.”
Yesterday’s result plunges Everton into the Premier League drop zone for the first time this season.
Lampard’s side are two points behind Burnley with a game in hand.
In other news, Kieran Maguire issues “critical” claim with Everton on verge of £300m deal.