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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Josh Challies

Liverpool fans furious after Jordan Pickford escapes red card for challenge on Virgil van Dijk

The latest Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton certainly lived up to the billing, with major talking points just minutes after the game started.

Sadio Mane gave Jurgen Klopp's side an early lead at Goodison Park and the advantage could have been made larger with just seven minutes on the clock.

Jordan Pickford came charging out of his goal to close down Virgil van Dijk following a cross to the defender, clattering into the Dutchman and forcing him to leave the field due to injury.

However, as Van Dijk was offside, the incident was not punished - despite the fact that it was an extremely poor challenge that resulted in injury.

Unsurprisingly, that left Liverpool fans on social media furious as plenty took to Twitter to express their outrage and confusion at the decision.

It got even worse when Pickford displayed a diving save to deny Trent Alexander-Arnold from a free-kick, with fans making it clear he shouldn't have been on the field to keep the effort out.

While the rules of the game explain that the decision was made due to the fact that passage of play was illegal, following the offside, many that it shouldn't be the case.

Had the incident been violent conduct, such as a headbutt or raising hands to the opponent, the punishment would have still taken place.

That raises serious questions about the laws of the game and whether they should be changed to include reckless challenges with excessive force.

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