Referee Anthony Taylor shows a yellow card to Diogo Dalot of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026 in Manchester, England.placeholder image
Referee Anthony Taylor shows a yellow card to Diogo Dalot of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. | Getty Images
Man Utd beat rivals Man City on Saturday afternoon but the game might have panned out different had an early decision gone the visitors' way
Alan Shearer, Roy Keane and Mike Dean all agreed that Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot should have been sent off against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils recorded a 2-0 victory over their rivals in Michael Carrick’s first game as interim manager.
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring on 65 minutes as the Red Devils caught their rivals on the counter attack. Patrick Dorgu made it 2-0 on 76 minutes as he showed great desire to get on the end of a cross from Matheus Cunha.
However, things might have panned out differently had Dalot been sent off early in the game. The United defender went in high on City forward Jérémy Doku, as he caught the Belgian international with his studs on his knee.
Anthony Taylor only gave the defender a yellow card as VAR did not get involved. The Premier League Match Centre explained: “The referee’s call of yellow card to Dalot for a reckless challenge was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be glancing and not with excessive force.”
However, there was widespread condemnation of the decision.
Former referee Mike Dean said on Sky Sports: "100 per cent red card. At normal speed you can't tell, but the replays aren't good. It's high, across the kneecap. Red card all day."
Roy Keane agreed, as he said of the incident: “They’ve had a look at it. Again, we always argue about, does it matter what minute it is? Is it too early, too early to score a goal or a bad tackle like that?
“Listen, I’ve been down this road before, I’ve given some heavy tackles and been on the receiving end of a few. To me, I’m no expert on red cards, but I think it’s a red.”
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer took to X to express his disagreement with the decision. He posted: “And again. That’s a red all day man. What on earth are they thinking.”
Man City boss Pep Guardiola was annoyed by the decision but admitted that was not the reason his side lost the game.
He reflected: "In many departments, we weren't there. They were better. They had an energy we didn't have. Was it a red card? Yes. But it would be poor for me as a manager to blame the red card.
"Would I change it? Yes. Would it have changed the game? who knows. If the players have that as an excuse, then we have a big problem."
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