Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita appeared fortunate to escape a red card after appearing to stamp on Jesse Lingard during his side's 4-0 win over Manchester United on Tuesday. Keita was booked for his challenge on the England star and the decision to only caution the Reds ace was not subsequently overturned by VAR.
Had the 27-year-old been dismissed he would've been suspended for Liverpool’s games against Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham. Replays showed that Keita’s studs made contact with Lingard’s calf and former Reds midfielder Graeme Souness was adamant that referee Martin Atkinson should have brandished a red card for the challenge.
“It's a red card all day. I think Keita's got very lucky there," he said on Sky Sports during the post-match analysis. “Liverpool [have] got lucky. It wouldn't have affected the score but this was a sending off.”
