Premier League officials have admitted to Everton that the club were the victim of a VAR mistake in the recent defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, which has left their manager Marco Silva under pressure.

Silva believes that Everton would be five points better off, and in the top half of the table but for the various VAR-related incidents that contributed to their defeat at the Amex Stadium and their 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.

VAR overruled the referee to award a penalty against Michael Keane for accidentally treading on Aaron Connolly’s foot in the match away to Brighton, but the Premier League said this week that that had been an error. Everton were leading at the time but went on