Former Premier League goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes players should be banned for as long as they sideline an opponent if the authorities want to cut out reckless challenges.
The Australian was speaking about Jordan Pickford's horror tackle on Virgil van Dijk which has resulted in the Liverpool man needing surgery.
A marginal offside call against the Dutchman prevented Pickford from seeing red, although the general consensus is that he should've been dismissed regardless.
Liverpool have requested a review into VAR's application during the Merseyside derby.
But Bosnich has called for a rule to be introduced that would see dangerous tackles result in lengthy bans.
He said on Sky Sports : "One thing that has never really come into serious consideration is that when there are challenges that are made, at the reckless level, which would be endangering an opponent's safety.
"I really do think that if that's the case, the powers that be have got to look at, maybe as a deterrent, how long the player you tackle is out, whether you meant it or not, is how long will be suspended.
"Because like I said, these types of tackles and the one later on from Richarlison, even though I thought Richarlison's was worse than Pickford's.
"Regardless of whether they mean it or not, it's putting the other players at risk and in danger.
"And I think the only way, like I said, long-term to deter players from actually putting themselves in the position where they're going to risk an opponent is to actually consider the rule."
Liverpool have refused to give a time scale for Van Dijk's absence as of yet with much depending on his recovery process.
Former Red Jamie Carragher has said that the defender's absence "throws the title race wide open".
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