Premier League statement on Everton VAR call drops after controversy vs Tottenham

Tottenham were bailed out by VAR after Everton's equaliser from Jake O'Brien was ruled out for an offside on Iliman Ndiaye. The Everton attacker appeared to impact Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario with Craig Pawson recommended to review the decision at the pitchside monitor.

The official deemed that both Ndiaye and Jack Grealish were in an offside position and promptly disallowed the goal with the decision later clarified.

A statement posted to X from the Premier League Match Centre read: "#EVETOT – 24’ VAR OVERTURN After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Everton.

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"Referee announcement: After review, Everton 10 and 18 were in an offside position, interfering with the goalkeeper. The final decision is an in-direct free kick in the six yard box."

Micky van de Ven had given Spurs the lead earlier in the half and bagged a second from another corner just before half-time.

The Toffees started the game better with Grealish going close after just a few minutes with James Garner also seeing a long-range effort go narrowly wide. Bentancur had a similar effort flash past the post in between Van de Ven's goals.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has faced some criticism over the last week after two disappointing attacking performances with his decision to continue playing Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, that continued on Sunday, also questionable.

During his pre-Everton press conference, he responded to the suggestion Spurs have been predictable in possession. "I think probably the team," he admitted.

"I think it's always team effort, how we construct a team or how. In the end, it's my final decision, of course. It's a collective effort in terms of how we want to build up or how we want to create chances. I think both of them are more than capable of helping the team.

"And I think it's one thing that is part of the game. The other part is, of course, how can we make sure we are strong and solid enough if we are in a spell where we may be.

"The team is not as free-floating as we want it to be because of new players getting, how can you say, gelled together, getting it more smooth, more free.

"How can we make sure that if that's not working, how can we make sure we are super solid and still building? So that's part of the puzzle."

The Lilywhites have not been too free-flowing in possession but have been superb from set-pieces with Van de Ven now up to five goals for the season. His first goal also came from Bentancur nodding a corner back across goal.