Liverpool fans may well be feeling a little relieved this morning despite their club’s recent resounding win in the Premier League.
Earlier this week, the Reds thumped bitter rivals Manchester United 4-0 at Anfield, with Mo Salah’s double and efforts from Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane settling the one-sided affair.
While the result never really looked in doubt – with Diaz giving Liverpool a lead after just five minutes – there was one moment that could have spoilt the fun for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Indeed, midfielder Naby Keita was fortunate not to see red when he mistimed a tackle on Jesse Lingard and ended up planting his studs into the 29-year-old’s calf, as this image shows.
TIF Thoughts on Naby Keita and Liverpool…
One man who certainly felt Keita should have faced greater punishment was Graeme Souness, and he told Sky Sports (via manutdnewsfeed) that the player was ‘very lucky’ to not pick up a red card.
He said: “It’s a red card all day. I think Keita’s got very lucky there.
“Liverpool [have] got lucky. It wouldn’t have affected the score but this was a sending-off.”
In the end, the Liverpool man only picked up a booking, but had he been sent off, it could have had some big repercussions. While it may not have changed the course of that match, a straight red card could have seen him handed a three-game ban.
Did Naby Keita deserve a red card for his foul?
Yes
No
If that was the case, he would miss upcoming league games against Everton, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. Considering the race for the title is so tight, Klopp would not have been happy to lose one of his frequently called-upon midfielders.
With all that in mind, Keita was pretty fortunate to get away with that.
In other news: Mo Salah’s teasing Instagram post