Bruno Fernandes was booked for a late lunge on Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes was fortunate to avoid serious action for a lunge on Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai.(Image: Getty Images)
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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says Bruno Fernandes' late challenge on Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai was not enough for a red card.
The Manchester United captain lunged in on the Hungarian during the latter stages of Sunday's 3-2 win over the Reds, catching him on the ankle. While Fernandes escaped with a caution, there were complaints that the yellow should have been upgraded to a red card due to the potential of seriously injuring the Liverpool goalscorer.
Fernandes' tackle was one of the flashpoints in a match overshadowed by the controversial decision to let Benjamin Sesko's goal stand, despite an apparent handball. Alternative angles show the ball brushing the Slovenian's hands during the process of scoring United's second goal.
Szoboszlai was left in a heap after the robust challenge from Fernandes, while Alexis Mac Allister and Ibrahima Konate complained about the nature of the tackle to referee Darren England.
But Gallagher felt that while the lunge was "reckless" it didn't cross over to red card territory. On Sky Sports' Ref Watch, he said: "I think the yellow card was right, he is low and doesn't come from a great distance, so he doesn't gather the speed.
"It's a reckless challenge but it is low and doesn't go above the boot. Once you do that, you're in trouble.
"Most tackles, for a split second, you are off the ground. The difference is when someone is throwing themselves in the air and have no control of their body."
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Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd was in agreement with Gallagher as he argued that Szoboszlai shielding the ball in the corner of his own final third initiated the contact.
He said: "The challenge itself is very low. He can see Szoboszlai is about to shield the ball out.
"Szoboszlai has put his foot there. That's why he's gone into his ankle. It's a yellow card, nothing more than that. You can see he's not trying to hurt anybody, it's not aggressive."
Liverpool were almost down and out after a turgid first-half that saw them slip behind to Matheus Cunha and Sesko. However, Szoboszlai led the fightback scoring a superb individual goal to halve the deficit.
He then turned provider after Senne Lammens' error was capitalised upon. Szoboszlai teed up Cody Gakpo to fire into an empty after the Belgian shot-stopper's goal kick was cut out.
But Liverpool fell six points off their rivals, who qualifed for next season's Champions League in the process.
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