Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
John Aldridge

Diogo Jota didn't deserve a red card - I’d sooner have six stitches in my head than a broken leg

I could not believe some of the decisions made by Paul Tierney during Sunday's game between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

It is well known we have experienced problems in matches involving Tierney in the past, and it was no different at the weekend during our win against Spurs. The first contentious call was Oliver Skipp's wild challenge on Luis Diaz, which was remarkably not even given as a free kick. It was a terrible tackle and for VAR not to tell the referee it is a red card, that is astonishing.

Skipp was later involved in a second talking point after being caught on the head by the boot of Diogo Jota. It was a clumsy tackle from Jota but it came from Skipp bravely putting his head in that position, something a lot of players wouldn’t do in the modern game.

READ MORE: FA launch Jurgen Klopp investigation after incidents with referee Paul Tierney

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp fumes on Liverpool touchline as Oliver Skipp reacts to Diogo Jota decision

I don’t think Jota should have been sent off in that situation, unless there is clear anger and intent to hurt the other player. I’d sooner have six stitches in my head than a broken leg that I’m out for a year with, which Skipp could easily have caused based on the impact he made with Diaz. That is the difference between the two tackles.

I don’t think Skipp’s contact on Diaz was deliberate, but it was an awful challenge. Diaz has only just come back and could have easily been out for another year due to that. It was a really bad tackle.

I don't know what the solution is with Tierney, in terms of whether he could be taken off our games for the time being. Liverpool could make a complaint, but I don't know how far you could take that. Jurgen doesn't really come out with the things he did after the game, so is there an issue of some sort for him to be so emotional about it?

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.