Anjishnu Roy 06/04/2025 16comments  |  Jump to last

Everton defender James Tarkowski secured a bizarre Premier League record in the clash with Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday. He received the 64th league booking of his career in 301 appearances.

The yellow card on Saturday means that Tarkowski, who also entered the referee’s book in the recent Merseyside derby at Anfield, has the most number of yellow cards for a player who has never seen a red card in the competition.

Tarkowski was cautioned for a foul on Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly as the Toffees held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw at home. 

The 32-year-old was also under the scanner in the 1-0 loss to Liverpool following his strong clearance that caught Alexis Mac Allister. Although he only saw a yellow card for that challenge, the referees’ body PGMOL conceded that he should’ve been sent off after the VAR review.

Tarkowski and his family also received death threats and social media abuse following that incident which has been condemned by the club and manager David Moyes.

With six bookings so far this season, he has overtaken former Chelsea and Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu and former Tottenham, Charlton, and Aston Villa defender Luke Young on the list of the most Premier League bookings without receiving a red card. Romeu and Young earned 63 and 62 yellow cards respectively without getting sent off even once.

Although Tarkowski has been sent off once in his career, it was while playing for Brentford in the Championship.

 

 

Reader Comments (16)

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John Pickles
1 Posted 06/04/2025 at 15:02:19
Is there any silverware awarded for it?

I'm sure we could find room for it in the cabinet next to the SportPesa Super Cup.

Colin Glassar
2 Posted 06/04/2025 at 15:09:34
PGMOL + VAR + Sky + EPL etc… have effectively destroyed football as we knew it.

The amount of money in the game has bred corruption to an extent never seen before.

RIP the beautiful game.

Dennis Stevens
3 Posted 06/04/2025 at 15:43:54
Surprised to see Baines in the top ten.
Paul Ferry
4 Posted 06/04/2025 at 18:48:32
Anjishnu, I see that you have given us 4 links but not one to the source for your information.

Can you please provide your source for this story.

Jim Bennings
5 Posted 06/04/2025 at 19:09:53
Another bit of history for Tarkowski.

Scored the last winning goal against Arsenal in a match at Goodison in February 2023 and scored the last ever goal in a Goodison derby match.

More like it.

Andrew Grey
7 Posted 06/04/2025 at 20:04:45
Paul - 4

BBC could be the source, as it's on there.

Tarkowski makes history but who has most top-flight bookings?

Robert Tressell
9 Posted 06/04/2025 at 20:30:26
Not surprised the BBC are publicising this after all the RS manipulation of the media over the (non-)incident in the derby. The strong implication is that he is due a red. Won't be a surprise to see a referee oblige and give him one before the season is out.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will continue to score offside goals...

Paul Ferry
10 Posted 06/04/2025 at 20:47:53
Cheers Andrew. No need now Anjishnu - thanks - but perhaps you could have produced that link that Andrew posted.

It's also a good reason to keep piling on the yellows Robert. But, needless to say, you are right about the imminent red.

Mike Hughes
11 Posted 06/04/2025 at 21:38:06
I didn't even think it was a yellow.

Personally I'd have booked the RS player for simulation.

Just as I would have sent off Mr Self Pity – Van Dijk – for that terrible tackle on England's Number 1 keeper a couple of years ago. He could have had his eye out there – dirty get.

Can't stand this “one rule for them, a different one for us” crap.


Si Cooper
12 Posted 06/04/2025 at 21:45:12
Dennis (3), why are you surprised about Bainesy?
Don't forget, this isn't about ‘dirty' players it's about those with the nous to avoid a second yellow card in a game.

Bainesy had a long career and wasn't some sort of non-tackling converted wide forward. He would take ‘one' for the team if necessary.

Paul Hewitt
13 Posted 06/04/2025 at 21:51:20
Most pointless stat I've ever seen.
Rob Halligan
14 Posted 06/04/2025 at 22:17:14
Mike # 11……..apparently Virgin Van Shite elbowed a Fulham player in the face today, but no action taken. I never watched them, so don’t how true it is, but it has not, as yet, been reported on SSN, the BBC or the international edition of the “We are the greatest team with the greatest fans in the history of World football” newspaper………So it must be true!

One dirty shit bag is St. Virgin. He should be banned for life and his club docked a million points and stripped of every trophy they have ever won!

Dennis Stevens
15 Posted 06/04/2025 at 22:28:30
Indeed, Si. All valid points that I agree with, I was more surprised that he'd picked up so many bookings. Then again, I dare say that playing for Everton increases the chances of getting shown a yellow card!
Tom Bowers
16 Posted 06/04/2025 at 22:48:51
The way McCallister was running today it was obvious he over reacted when tackled by Tarks. as many foreign players do. Tarks. made a full blooded tackle clearly getting the ball first and the momentum by both players caused the collision.

Tarks. is the mainstay of the Everton defence and along with Branthwaite he has formed a tough partnership to crack which is reflected by the goals against tally being among the lowest in the Prem.

Would like them both to be around next season but if not maybe Jake can fill the breach.

Andy Crooks
17 Posted 06/04/2025 at 22:58:47
Mike @11, I like that, but I'd take it further. I'd red card "Trent" for.. well just being who he is and for his name.
Steve Shave
18 Posted 07/04/2025 at 07:32:06
The disparity around how the media covers stories differently for the big clubs continues to disgust me, it tarnishes the game so much in my view. Along with Sky generally and VAR, as others have already said.

I posted the other week after Beto had scored against Man Utd, I was listening on the radio and there was this unnecessarily long VAR check, the commentator actually said the words "It’s almost as if they are trying to find a reason not to give it but can't so it looks like the goal is going to stand." I hate it.

Tarkowski’s tackle against Liverpool was a red but the way the media covered it, it was as if he'd literally tried to murder him. He took accountability at the end, apologised to the player and in the media, more than what most of their shithouse players would do. The coverage is despicable.

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