Credit: Imago / Sky Sports

Harri Burton

Mon 20 April 2026 14:10, UK

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Virgil van Dijk should have been punished for a blatant foul on Everton star Idrissa Gueye during Liverpool‘s win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Arne Slot’s captain is a “serial offender” but continues to escape sanction from referees.

In the 22nd minute, Van Dijk brought a Toffees’ counter-attack to a grinding halt, upending Gueye outside his own penalty area, but was not shown a yellow card by Chris Kavanagh on Sunday, 19 April.

Jordan Pickford made his feelings very clear, bursting off his goal line to confront the referee about his decision, only to be cautioned for dissent during Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Jordan Pickford’s reaction can’t be excused, but Virgil van Dijk should’ve been punished

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “It’s a yellow card. It’s reckless, but as usual, Van Dijk gets away with it. He’s a serial offender.

“I can’t understand how referees don’t pick up on it. I’ve got nothing against Van Dijk. He’s been a great defender, but he’s got a habit of committing these types of challenges.

“Sometimes, I don’t think referees use common sense. Pickford has come to have a moan; just move away from it. I’m not making excuses for Pickford having a go, but he’s a passionate guy.

“He’s got to control that. But at the same time, from what I’ve seen, I can understand why he’s vented his frustrations. It’s a cheap yellow card.”

What else did Chris Kavanagh get wrong on Merseyside?

Kavanagh was enemy No.1 at Hill Dickinson, with both sets of supporters frustrated by the referee’s performance, and not carding Van Dijk was far from his only mistake.

Ryan Gravenberch also deserved to go into the referee’s notebook during the first half, quickly racking up three fouls in a frustrating 45 minutes for the Reds, but he was let off scot-free.

Many also felt that the Toffees deserved to be awarded a penalty after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went shoulder-to-shoulder with Curtis Jones, being bundled over in the area.

The Merseyside derby is always a difficult fixture to officiate, but were you to ask either set of supporters, they would find something to complain about from Kavanagh.