Liverpool handed new Adam Lallana red card referee verdict as Southampton drama takes fresh twist

Adam Lallana was lucky not to get sent off against Liverpool for a challenge on Ryan Gravenberch, according to former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher. The former Reds playmaker lunged into a tackle on the Dutchman but narrowly escaped with a yellow card.

The incident occurred after 20 minutes when the 36-year-old steamed into a full-blooded tackle with the Liverpool midfielder. Lallana catches Gravenberch before his trailing leg connects with the former Ajax youngsters ankle.

The Southampton midfielder was booked by Samuel Barrott and there was no further action taken, as well as no serious appeal from the Liverpool players. Gravenberch was okay to continue following the incident, while Lallana - who made 178 appearances for the Reds - was forced off before the break with a muscle injury.

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Gallagher admitted that Lallana was fortunate not be sent for an early bath and the manner of the challenge is what saved him from being shown a first red card of his senior career. The former Premier League referee said: “I think he was lucky that the foot actually landed on the foot in the end.

"That’s for me what saves him, any higher he will get sent off.”

Roy Keane was one of the first pundits to speak out about the challenge and sided with the view that Lallana was fortunate not to be sent off. The former Manchester United midfielder noted that the Englishman's reputation and a lack of response from his former Liverpool teammates spared his blushes.

"I think so, look at him here, he’s not in control, he’s not even looking at the ball," the Irishman said on Sky Sports. "It’s something that I would’ve been sent off for and I probably would’ve had no complaints.

"They’ve probably looked at him and thought, ‘(Lallana) not the nasty type’. None of the Liverpool players were after him, ex teammate, I think he’s got away with one. The more I look at it, I think it’s a red."

Speaking on Sky Sports' Football Show, Sue Smith felt that the tackle from the 36-year-old was "naughty", she said: "I think that's a little bit naughty, I know Roy Keane spoke about character and Lallana isn't that player but I think it's naughty. I know it ends up on his foot but it's just above the ankle, it twists and looks a little bit naughty.