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Dermot Gallagher reckons Marcos Senesi should have been sent off for handling the ball in Liverpool's Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Friday night.

The Cherries' player appeared to handle the ball during the first half at Anfield - with the game goalless - and block Mohamed Salah's through-ball to Hugo Ekitike.

However, referee Anthony Taylor didn't penalise Senesi for the incident.



He then instead awarded a free-kick to Andoni Iraola's side.

Gallagher, though, believes Taylor made the wrong decision and should have sent Senesi off.

That flashpoint was discussed on Sky Sports show Ref Watch.

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"The VAR, for me, has looked at it and cleared it too quickly," said Gallagher.

"I think he's seen the ball fly up off Senesi and he hasn't watched that [the handball.”

"He's seen the ball hit the arm off the knee and that's it.

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"He's stopped looking and hasn't looked at the second swipe.

"If he sends the referee to the screen, he's got all options.

"Firstly, he can send him off, which I think he probably would do because Ekitike is going to be away.

"The only doubt is, is he too far from the goal?

"He can yellow-card him if he thinks he's too far from the goal.

"He should have gone to the screen and given a red card."

"The VAR cleared it really quickly and he hasn't looked for the swipe.

"That's where the mistake was - it was cleared too quickly."

Meanwhile, one-time Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd added: "You know what the most blatant thing about that is, though, it's come off of his knee, it's when he's actually gone to reach for the ball where he's clipped it and the ball's gone away.

"That's the red card.

He's stopped a goal-scoring opportunity, because Ekitike is through then.

"That's a poor decision."

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