Everton rally around defender after death threats following Liverpool game

"The club is liaising with James and his wife Samantha."

Everton have rallied around James Tarkowski and his wife Samantha, after the Toffees defender received death threats following a bad challenge on Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister on Wednesday.

Tarkowski received a yellow card after a high follow through, which VAR agreed with, however, following the game, PGMOL admitted that VAR had made an error and that a red card should have been issued.

The 32-year-old revealed that he apologised to Mac Allister after the game, which the midfielder accepted.

A statement from Everton said: "Everton Football Club is aware of threats made towards James Tarkowski and his family on social media. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place in football or society.

"The club is liaising with James and his wife Samantha, and stands ready to engage with the social media companies and assist the police with any potential investigation.

"Everton strongly condemns any form of online or offline intimidation, threats or abuse directed at players, staff or their families."

In an Instagram post, his wife Samantha said: "The level of abuse my husband is receiving wishing death on him, vile comments about me, about us as a couple and about him as a person is beyond disgusting," she said.

"People forget that he is more than just a footballer. He is a husband, a son, a brother, a friend and most importantly the father of our two children.

"Football is a sport, but the way some so-called fans behave is disgraceful. The abuse, the threats - it's not passion, it's pathetic. We're real people and this goes far beyond football."