Liverpool's game against Tottenham was packed full of incidents after Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero were both sent off, but the hosts may have been lucky not to have received a third red card
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes there should have been a third red card during Liverpool’s win over Tottenham on Saturday.
Referee John Brooks had a busy evening as the Reds toiled to a 2-1 win over their nine-man hosts in north London. Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike provided the goals as Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero were both sent off for Spurs.
Despite their numerical advantage, the visitors did their best to throw away another two-goal lead this season, with Richarlison’s goal setting up a nervy finish in which Liverpool found itself clinging on for the win in stoppage time.
Although Thomas Frank may say otherwise, Tottenham can have little complaint about either of their red cards, with both Simons and Romero’s dismissals easily avoidable.
The former was sent off after raking his studs down the back of Virgil van Dijk’s calf, with the decision escalated by VAR after Brooks had originally awarded a yellow card, while Romero was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate, despite having just won a free-kick against the Liverpool defender.
And according to Hackett, the hosts were lucky not to have been reduced to eight men, with the former Premier League official insisting that Brooks missed a third red card during the game.
Hackett felt that Richarlison could have also been given his marching orders for his reaction following his goal, with the Brazilian having been involved in a tangle with Ekitike as he tried to retrieve the ball.
"There is no doubt that Richarlison is a competitive individual and certainly one that a referee needs to keep his eye on,” Hackett told Football Insider.
"In this particular situation, we see Richarlison with his hand on the neck of his opponent as he is getting up off the ground. There's a little pressure. Could easily have been a red card but was completely missed by officials, ignored by VAR and as a result, nothing happens.
"It could have been a red card mister Richarlison. Behave yourself."
Despite Hackett’s view of the incident, Richarlison would avoid any sort of punishment until he was shown a yellow card at full-time, having protested with Brooks about the amount of stoppage time added on at the end of the game.