Liverpool moved past an excellent Bournemouth team over the weekend, coming out 2-0 winners in the Premier League thanks to a brace from Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian scored a goal in each half.
His first, though, was somewhat controversial. Cody Gakpo went down after a slight touch from Lewis Cook. Darren England, the referee, pointed to the spot and Salah converted after a check from the VAR confirmed the call.
According to the former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, though, there was another controversial moment. He felt that Alexis Mac Allister should have been sent off just before Arne Slot took him off and brought on Curtis Jones.
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"There’s no question that this should have been a second yellow card, no question about that, but the one thing I would add is this — I think the actions of the manager need to be praised," he told Football Insider. "I think he recognized that this particular player, at times, does lose a bit of his self-control.
"What you have to say is, when you’re on a yellow card, you’re on a tightrope. I think he’s fortunate that the referee’s not seen in the way that we’ve seen it, and of course VAR cannot come in on a yellow card offense.
"The Liverpool player’s got away with one. Well done to the manager for substituting him because he was a car crash ready to happen. I think you want players that are aggressive but you also want players that do engage their brain on occasions and calm down. I think he’ll get some good operational advice from his manager."
Liverpool.com says: There is no way that Mac Allister was going to be sent off for his foul. He wouldn't have had many more chances after that but it would have been incredibly harsh to send him off. He came off on the hour mark, which might well have happened anyway with Jones back available.
