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.”
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Fellow pundit Roy Keane echoed Souness’ view that the Liverpool man was lucky to get away with a caution. “He would have got a suspension. That's a red card,” he said. Whilst Keita isn’t by any means a first team regular, having him available will be a tremendous boost for Jurgen Klopp with the Reds chasing an unprecedented quadruple.
Spurs are also chasing a prize of their of their own with the much coveted fourth spot in the Premier League and with it a return to the Champions League, any advantage they could gain going into their most difficult remaining fixture would have been welcomed. Antonio Conte’s side travel to Anfield on May 7.
