Everton could only pick up a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace last Friday.
Richard Keys has written on his personal blog that Everton’s goal against Crystal Palace should have been disallowed.
Everton received a free-kick on the edge of the area, when a Palace defender raised his foot to try and win the ball, and almost made contact with the onrushing Phil Jagielka’s head.
Romelu Lukaku curled in the set-piece, but Keys claims that by the letter of the law, it should have been given as an indirect free-kick and ruled out.
“Everton’s goal should’ve been disallowed as well,” Keys wrote. “We can argue all day long about whether they should even have had the free-kick, but once it had been given it should’ve been indirect.
“Why? The offence was ‘dangerous play’ because there was no contact. Jon Moss was wrong in law. Lukaku stuck it straight in – so the game should’ve re-started with a goal-kick for Palace.”
Lukaku had never before taken a free-kick in a Premier League game, but his shot gave Steve Mandanda no chance.
It seems likely that Lukaku will be handed a more regular chance of taking Everton’s set pieces from now.
The Belgian international’s goal was not enough to inspire Everton to victory on Friday night, though, as Palace fought back through a header from Christian Benteke.
Everton are now in fifth place in the Premier League table, while Palace are in eighth position.
The Toffees are next in action after the international break, with a match against Manchester City.
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