Marc Guehi was involved in a controversial second-half decision as Liverpool felt the Manchester City defender should have been handed a red card at Anfield
Mohamed Salag holds the ball away from Marc Guehi
Mohamed Salah was brought down by Marc Guehi(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Gary Neville has insisted that referee Craig Pawson made the right decision NOT to give Marc Guehi a straight red card during the second half of Liverpool's game against Manchester City at Anfield.
The Reds felt that Guehi should have been given his marching orders in the 68th minute after fouling Mohamed Salah just outside the box. Guehi, who was shown a yellow card for his role in the incident, appeared to pull Salah back as the Reds forward was running inside the right channel.
Pawson blew straight for a free-kick and VAR agreed as the contact happened - and finished - outside the 18-yard box, despite calls for a penalty. But VAR then checked whether Guehi's booking should be upgraded to a red card. After a brief check, they said no and agreed with Pawson's initial decision.
Delivering his verdict on Pawson and VAR's call not to send Guehi off, Neville said while on co-commentary: "No. No. No. No... "It's definitely not the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. He's not going to get there, Salah.
"Dias is there. He's going to get across. The ball's too far in front of him [Salah], they've got to the right conclusion in the end."
Shortly after, the Premier League release a statement to confirm the decision.
"#LIVMCI – 68' The referee's call of a free-kick and yellow card to Guehi for the challenge on Salah was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge outside of the area and deemed not to be denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) as there was a covering defender," the Premier League said.
Six minutes later, Liverpool took the lead through a sensational free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian blasted home a terrific 30-yard strike into the back of the net, giving Gianluigi Donnarumma no chance.
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