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David Coote DROPPED from referee and VAR roles for the first time this season after forgetting he could review Jordan Pickford's horror lunge on Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby... and instead will be fourth official as Man City play West Ham

The referee at the centre of the the VAR controversy in Saturday's Merseyside derby will only be on fourth official duties in the Premier League this weekend.

David Coote, the official overseeing proceedings at Stockley Park for Liverpool's 2-2 draw at Everton, has been taken out of the limelight after failing to check for a red card for Jordan Pickford.

The England goalkeeper inflicted a season-ending knee injury on Virgil van Dijk with a horror challenge in the first half at Goodison Park, but Coote forgot the rules stating he could review the incident despite the offside in the build-up.