Controversy at Anfield
Jurgen Klopp expressed his bewilderment at Alexis Mac Allister's red card incident during Liverpool's recent victory over Bournemouth on Saturday. The manager found himself perplexed by the absence of VAR intervention to reverse the decision.
The match unfolded with the Reds prevailing over the Cherries 3-1 at Anfield, rebounding admirably after conceding an early goal and securing their first Premier League victory of the season.
However, the path to triumph was anything but straightforward, particularly as the summer acquisition from Brighton, Alexis Mac Allister, faced a direct red card just before the hour-mark.
During a contested encounter between Mac Allister and Ryan Christie over ball possession, the Bournemouth player narrowly outpaced his counterpart. This resulted in Mac Allister's in-step connecting with his opponent's shin, prompting a red card.
While acknowledging the presence of contact, Klopp conceded that upon reviewing the incident, it was evident that the challenge didn't warrant a straight red card. The Liverpool manager expressed bafflement as to why VAR didn't prompt the referee to review the incident on screen.
"Klopp discusses the red card incident in a chat with Sky Sports. He acknowledges the referee's viewpoint but highlights, after reviewing, that the inside of the foot was the point of impact with minimal force."
Klopp explained that the challenge was accidental, grazing the opponent's shin. He highlighted harsher tackles without red cards, unlike Mac Allister's case. Klopp finds the decision unjustified and suggests revisiting this conversation for a fair solution.
Ex-players unanimously criticize Mac Allister's unfair dismissal. Gary Lineker and Chris Sutton both condemn the decision on Twitter. Lineker calls it "nonsensical," while Sutton deems it "astonishing" and questions VAR's role.
Despite the adversity, Liverpool managed to clinch victory with goals from Luis Diaz, Mo Salah, and Diogo Jota. Their resilience enabled them to secure three points despite the contentious red card incident.
