Premier League officials face backlash over a shocking VAR blunder during the Everton vs. Chelsea match. PGMOL is now under intense scrutiny following a surprising error in failing to award a penalty for a controversial handball incident.

Everton secured another valuable point over the weekend as they hosted Chelsea at Goodison Park, continuing their recent positive run.

The past week has been particularly joyful for Everton fans, with the long-awaited confirmation of the club’s takeover marking a new chapter. Sean Dyche’s position appears more secure than ever, thanks to impressive results: a big win against Wolves followed by hard-fought draws against Arsenal and Chelsea.

The arrival of The Friedkin Group has already begun to bring change, with Dyche noting a new sense of stability following Farhad Moshiri’s departure.

However, the Toffees may consider themselves slightly lucky to have walked away with a point against Chelsea, as a controversial decision seemingly went in their favor.

Jordan Pickford Avoids VAR Punishment

During Sunday’s game, a challenge by Jordan Pickford on Chelsea’s Malo Gusto inside the penalty area raised eyebrows. Former Premier League winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, speaking to Optus Sport, argued that Pickford was fortunate not to receive a red card for the incident.

While Dyche confirmed that Ashley Young picked up an injury during the match, Pickford’s situation dominated post-game discussions. Wright-Phillips and other pundits questioned why VAR didn’t intervene, suggesting Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty.

A Pattern of Risky Challenges

Pickford has earned praise for his performances this season, especially after keeping Everton in the game against Arsenal. However, his aggressive style has come under scrutiny before, most notably for a high challenge on Virgil van Dijk in a Merseyside Derby a few years ago, which caused serious injury to the Liverpool defender.

While many Everton fans might feel overdue for a bit of VAR leniency after controversial decisions last season, Pickford’s challenge against Chelsea serves as a reminder of the fine line he treads.

Pundits, including Sam Allardyce, have noted Pickford’s accountability in the dressing room, and this may be another moment where he reflects on the risks in his game. As Everton continues to climb under Dyche, fine-tuning such areas could be crucial to maintaining momentum.