Frank Lampard has slammed the 'incompetent' officiating as Everton were denied a penalty against Manchester City for handball.
In a close game, City took the lead late on through Phil Foden after a Michael Keane mistake, but Everton felt they should have had a chance to equalise when Rodri controlled a ball in his own area using his arm.
The referee did not award a penalty, but the incident was reviewed for a long time by the Video Assistant Referee. To the fury of both sides of Merseyside, VAR ultimately decided that there was 'no conclusive evidence' that enough of the ball had hit the area deemed to constitute handball.
City ran out 1-0 winners to get their title challenge back on track, while Everton are just one point and one place above the relegation zone.
Pep Guardiola said the penalty shouldn't have been given as there was an offside in the build-up, but Lampard said the officials told him at full-time that his player, Richarlison, had been confirmed to be onside.
Lampard told Sky: "I was calm, I was not shouting and ranting at him [the referee]. I wanted to know if offside in the build-up but I have been told it wasn't in the build-up.
"Go to VAR, they have two minutes to look at it and to think they have not given that as a penalty when it strikes him on the arm, in an unnatural position. I have a three-year-old daughter at home who could tell you that was a penalty.
"We are fighting at the bottom of the table and they are fighting at the top and an easy decision to give on a penalty. I don't know what has to happen as a reflection of that.
"A mistake is when you have done something wrong and don't have time to think about it, they had two minutes to digest the handball.
"Even if the VAR says not sure, then go have a look. It is incompetence at best, if not that then someone needs to explain what it is."
In his press conference, he added: "Absolutely no understanding. At best incompetence. At worst, who knows."
In other interviews, City players John Stones and Phil Foden said they were unsure the decision would go their way.
"I didn't get a good view of it when it happened," Stones said. "The ball went out and VAR checked and you are just waiting then."
Foden added: "I was just praying, fingers crossed it was not a penalty. I didn't get a good sight of it but my heart was in my mouth."
