Liverpool may have already wrapped up the Premier League title, but their encounter against Arsenal on the weekend was still packed full of drama. And while there was one red card to Mikel Merino, former referee Keith Hackett has claimed Andy Robertson should have also been sent off.
The Reds took a two-goal lead into the break, scoring twice in less than two minutes through Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. The Gunners hit back in the second half, with Gabriel Martinelli and Merino levelling the scores.
The game would end 2-2, but the closing stages would catch the eye with Merino sent off for a second bookable offence, while the Anfield crowd booed Trent Alexander-Arnold in light of his confirmed summer move to Real Madrid. If that drama wasn't enough, it appears as though there could have been even more.
Keith Hackett: Andy Robertson Should Have Seen Sent Off
Liverpool ace grabbed Bukayo Saka
According to Hackett – who used to be a Premier League referee in the 90s – Robertson deserved a red card for his apparent choke on Bukayo Saka during the first half. A long ball came over the top and as the duo challenged for the ball, the Liverpool ace was rather rough.
Despite the manhandling of the Arsenal star, referee Anthony Taylor did not even blow for a foul. VAR also didn't feel there was enough in it to get involved, so Robertson got away without any punishment.
Hackett seemed to think this was a big mistake. One fan wrote to him on social media, asking: "What is your view on Robertson grabbing Saka by the neck to pull him back? It seems to have brushed under the media."
He replied:
"I wrote about it immediately. This was a red card offence"
He would go on to note: "There is huge inconsistency on holding offences which are suppressing the skill of players."
Despite Hackett's certainty that it should have been a red card, not much has been made of the incident elsewhere in the media. That suggests it may not have been quite as clear-cut as the former Premier League referee insists.
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