Andoni Iraola looking on with Alexis Mac Allister tackling Adam Wharton in circular inset
Andoni Iraola looking on with Alexis Mac Allister tackling Adam Wharton in circular inset
That is the opinion of former head of PGMOL and FIFA referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Argentine midfielder scored the opening goal of the game shortly before half-time, with Liverpool going on to win 3-1.
Goals from Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak cemented the three points, with Eddie Nketiah's penalty simply a consolation.
The goal from Mac Allister was the turning point, but the South American was also involved in an incident which has led to calls over a red card.
Former referee Hackett shares his view on the incident.
Why Alexis Mac Allister's challenge on Adam Wharton raised safety concerns
In the 60th minute of the game, Mac Allister caught Adam Wharton with a sliding challenge, in which he didn't win the ball.
The referee did not award a foul, leaving Palace fans bemused at the decision, with calls for a possible red card.
While Hackett believes there was not enough for a red card, he is growing concerned about the nature of these tackles.
He said: "I worry about these types of challenges. What is lacking in this one is excessive force. It has to be yellow. Make no mistake, it has to be yellow because it's a danger to the safety of an opponent.
"I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but these are the challenges that we're seeing more of, in my opinion. And it's an inconsistent approach by referees in how they sanction.
"Sometimes a free kick is just not enough. And in this one, I think we want to outlaw players going off the ground.
"Potentially, he's close to the ground, so there's a degree of control to be able to stop himself. And that's where it's a close call."
Referee Tony Harrington got Mac Allister punishment all wrong
In the game, Mac Allister was not handed a booking for the foul by referee Harrington.
Mac Allister, though, would later get booked in the 83rd minute for a separate incident.
Hackett believes this is where the referee got his decision all wrong, sharing: "I'm judging that there's a lack of excessive force and he's got the ability to come out of it or go in a different direction because he's in contact with the ground.
"And that's why I'm not giving him a red. But he should have received the sanction."
If he had picked up that yellow card, that could have limited the Argentine's ability to go into challenges.
And it could have altered the outcome of the match.