Liverpool receive new Darwin Nunez red card referee verdict after Man United flashpoint
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes it was the correct decision not to send Darwin Nunez off following his collision during Liverpool's draw with Manchester United. However, former Reds defender Stephen Warnock has lamented Nunez for his antics.
The forward challenged Matthijs de Ligt as they battled for aerial ball and, as Nunez and De Ligt tangled, United defender De Ligt was left in a heap. Michael Oliver booked the Liverpool man for his role in the challenge, taking the 25-year-old to five yellow cards for the campaign - meaning he will miss the clash against Nottingham Forest on January 14 in the Premier League.
Liverpool toiled in a frustrating 2-2 draw, missing their chance to go eight points clear of Arsenal in second. The Reds staged a second-half fightback through Cody Gakpo and a Mohamed Salah penalty after Lisandro Martinez capitalised on poor defending from Arne Slot's side.
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With Liverpool leading heading into the final 10 minutes, they were handed a blow when Alejandro Garnacho's cross was met by Amad, who fired low to level up the scoring. It almost ended in defeat for the Reds, too, when Harry Maguire was teed up inside the 18-yard box - but the centre-back skied his effort after Joshua Zirkzee raced through on goal.
Gallagher felt that a yellow card was the correct decision. He said: "I think yellow card, it is interesting because if you watch Nunez now, he never looks at the ball and always looks at the player.
"But he catches him in the chest, doesn't come from a long distance and I think there are a couple of factors that stop it from being a red card. He doesn't go a long way and he does catch him in the chest - rather than the face."
Warnock, who made 43 appearances for the Reds, criticised the Liverpool frontman. Also speaking on Sky Sports show Ref Watch, he added: "I'm wondering why De Ligt holds his face.
"You don't hold your face if you are hit in the chest. Nunez is stupid, really stupid.
"Because referees might interpret it in a different way, and he might get sent-off. But the fact that you watch the incident he doesn't look once at the ball and only eyes on De Ligt.
"The only saving grace is that he doesn't throw in an elbow. If he throws an elbow, or leads with one, then he's in really big trouble, it's the fact that he almost uses his back doesn't he. [It's] Silly from both players."
