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Chelsea get Moises Caicedo red card verdict as Jamie Carragher fumes amid VAR call

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was left in disbelief after Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo avoided a red card during the clash with Tottenham Hotspur in north London.

With the scores locked at 2-1 to Tottenham - at that point - Caicedo was spotted going studs first into Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr. As Sarr received treatment, Carragher told fellow Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury that he thought the Chelsea man would be sent-off.

However, after a relatively quick VAR check, referee Anthony Taylor was advised to continue with play and give a free-kick to Spurs. Drury then informed the audience at home that VAR had ruled there was no "excessive force" in Caicedo's challenge, which ultimately allowed the player to stay on the pitch.

This appeared to enrage Carragher, who proclaimed: "What? Have I missed something there?

"That is unbelievable. I don't like seeing people sent-off, but I was certain that was going to be a red card.

"They've got away with a huge one there." After the Caicedo incident, the Premier League released the following statement: "VAR checked for a potential red card following a challenge by Moises Caicedo on Sarr and confirmed the referee's call of no serious foul play."

Shortly before the break, it was Tottenham's turn to get away with a potential red card offence. Dejan Kulusevski appeared to catch Romeo Lavia on the side of his head with his elbow.

While VAR is believed to have also checked that incident, Sky Sports host Kelly Cates explained they deemed the incident to be "accidental contact" and no more. Dominic Solanke and Kulusevski's goals gave Tottenham a strong early lead, but Jadon Sancho's strike on 17 minutes has put the game firmly in the balance.

Cole Palmer (pen) then levelled things up for Chelsea to make it 2-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Enzo Fernandes and Palmer, once again from the penalty spot, followed that up as Maresca's side underlined their title credentials.

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