Liverpool gets red card verdict after reckless Alexis Mac Allister challenge
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Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu should have been shown a straight red card following his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister during Liverpool’s win at Turf Moor on Sunday.
The Reds maintained their 100 per cent record in the Premier League so far as a stoppage-time Mohamed Salah penalty earned them all three points following Hannibal Mejbri’s handball.
It was far from a convincing performance from the visitors, who had looked destined to drop their first points of the season as they struggled to find a way through Burnley’s defense, and to make matters worse, they were handed an injury scare during the first half.
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Mac Allister received treatment for a lengthy period of time following a challenge from Ugochukwu during the first half, with the Burnley midfielder catching the Argentine on the ankle.
Although Mac Allister would see out the remainder of the half, he was substituted at half-time by Arne Slot, raising concerns over a possible injury, although the 26-year-old has since played down those fears.
Despite a VAR check, Ugochukwu would escape with just a yellow card from Michael Oliver, although the former Chelsea man would later be given a second booking after a foul on Florian Wirtz.
Lesley Ugochukwu was later shown a red card after a foul on Florian Wirtz
Former referee Hackett though believes he should have been given his marching orders much sooner, insisting that Oliver should have brandished a red card for his challenge on Mac Allister.
“The challenge endangered the opponent and fulfilled the law for serious foul play,” Hackett told Football Insider.
“The referee should have sanctioned the offence with a red card.”
Slot will now have to wait to see whether Mac Allister will be fit to play a part in Liverpool’s opening Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, although the Reds boss admitted his decision to withdraw the midfielder at half-time was partly tactical.
“It is similar to Alex [Isak] but in a completely different way" Slot said in his post-match press conference.
He played 90 for Argentina and he was really tired after 70.
“He doesn’t have the right build-up towards playing three games a week for 90 minutes, so it was always sure today that I would take him off after 60 minutes for him to be able to be back on the pitch again on Wednesday and for him to be on Saturday back on the pitch again.
“I had already made one substitution in the first half, so if I then take him off at 60 minutes that would be my second one
If I then want to make [another on] 75 then in end I can do nothing anymore.
“So, that combined with the fact the tackle was a tackle he felt – and I am not surprised by the fact he felt that tackle, by the way – it was a combination of both."