In the Goodison Park derby earlier this season, Virgil van Dijk raked his studs down the shin of Amadou Onana but avoided a red card because, it was said, the force of his tackle was ultimately directed on the Everton midfielder's foot.
In the Premier League survival-clinching win over Crystal Palace, Jordan Ayew caught Anthony Gordon well above the ball in a shocking lunge that was deemed reckless - but not reckless enough to warrant a red card for the late tackle on the Everton attacker.
In the game before that Jarrad Branthwaite saw red when Everton had every right to argue his challenge on Ivan Toney was made irrelevant by an earlier pull on Richarlison's shirt in the Brentford box.
