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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Kyle Newbould & Joe Thomas

Why Bournemouth's Lewis Cook escaped a red card for challenge on Everton's Amadou Onana

Everton fans and players went into the half-time break at the Vitality Stadium seething after a number of decisions seemed to go against them - particularly the absence of a red card for Bournemouth's Lewis Cook.

The Cherries midfielder flew into a challenge on Amadou Onana in the second minute of added time as the pair stretched for a loose ball. Onana managed to poke the ball away before Cook, two feet off the ground, clattered into the Belgian.

The Everton midfielder needed medical attention and Cook was shown a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson, but those in blue were adamant that it should be checked by those at Stockley Park.

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VAR official for the match, Tony Harrington, reviewed the challenge but opted against sending Pawson to the screen.

The ECHO understands that VAR considered the challenge reckless but not serious foul play, and therefore not worthy of a straight red card.

Cook's challenge was one of a number of decisions that seemed to go Bournemouth's way in the opening period. Kieffer Moore's goal in the 25th minute, which doubled the Cherries' advantage, came with James Tarkowski down with a head injury.

But later in the half, with the Blues on the counter-attack, Pawson stopped playing way when he spotted that Marcus Tavernier, who had put Bournemouth in front, went down and needed treatment.

Those strikes from Tavernier and Moore put the Cherries 2-0 up at the break.

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