Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita only deserved a yellow card for his shocking tackle on Trevoh Chalobah in the Carabao Cup final - a challenge that left the Chelsea defender needing stitches..
Following an initial 120 minute stalemate, the Blues suffered heartbreak on penalties after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga - who had only come on the pitch for the shootout - missed the final spot kick to hand Liverpool an 11-10 win.
Although there wasn't a legitimate goal in the game, the match wasn't without its talking points as four goals were ruled out for an offside offence.
Liverpool's Joel Matip had a goal chalked off in the 67th minute after Virgil van Dijk was deemed to be in an offside position in the buildup before Kai Havertz also had a goal chalked off before the full-time whistle.
Romelu Lukaku thought he had scored the winner in extra-time, but he was controversially adjudged to be offside by VAR. Havertz then had a second goal ruled out but the offside was clear for all to see.
Nevertheless, the tackle from Keita in the 58th minute of the clash has garnered the most attention since Liverpool lifted the trophy.
The extremely high challenge meant Chalobah needed stitches after the game, and many - including the defender himself - have called out referee Stuart Atwell as well as VAR for not sending the Guinean midfielder off.
Still, Gallagher thinks that the challenge only justified a yellow card.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former referee said: "I thought he [Atwell] dealt with it really well because if you look, both players are as high [as each other].
"In the game, that was the one decision I thought: 'I wonder if he'll regret that?' I think he should've gone back and yellow carded him.
"I think both players were there, it's inevitable there's going to be contact from one to the other. I don't think it was a malicious challenge, I don't think it was a brutal challenge.
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"Both players were as high as each other. Probably the wisest decision was to stop play immediately but he didn't. That was his choice. That's how he refereed and I thought he refereed it brilliantly."
Sending Keita off would've given Chelsea a significant advantage heading into the closing embers of the game, but it wasn't to be for the Blues. They will now turn their attention to the FA Cup as they travel to Luton Town on Wednesday night.
