Jordan Pickford should have seen red for his X-rated tackle on Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby.
That is the view of former Premier League referee Peter Walton who feels his old colleague Michael Oliver got the decision wrong at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Van Dijk was wiped out inside the penalty box after just six minutes when Pickford completely missed the ball before flying knee-height into the Liverpool defender.
Everton were spared a penalty due to van Dijk straying offside, but Walton says Pickford should still have got his marching orders.
"Players don’t get a free shot just because the whistle has gone," Walton told BT Sport. "Pickford was so late with his challenge which meant van Dijk had to leave the field of play.
"It was a poor challenge and Michael Oliver should have gone to the [VAR] monitor.
"Had he of gone to the monitor he’d have seen what we’ve seen that it was a red card for serious foul play.
"If you ask me I think it was [a red card]. If I was the VAR I’d have asked Michael to go and take another look.
"If that was in the centre of midfield that would have been a sending off."
The incident had a big impact on the game, as van Dijk hobbled off after five minutes of treatment with Liverpool a goal ahead.
That lead was short-lived though as Everton hit back soon after as the visitors struggled to adapt without their defensive commander.
Van Dijk may arguably have thwarted both Everton goals, too, as Michael Keane was able to score a header unchallenged from a corner, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin's outjumped Andy Robertson in the box for a late equaliser.
Pickford himself must have been aware his challenge was more on the robust side as he sent a message to van Dijk after the match.
Should Pickford have seen red for his tackle? Have your say below.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson told BT Sport at the final whistle: "Everyone keeps asking me [about Pickford's tackle] so I guess it must not have been good challenge.
"Jordan [Pickford] came up and apologised after the game and [told me] to tell Virgil."
The game did eventually see a red card as Everton striker Richarlison was dismissed for another horror tackle on Thiago Alcantara.
Henderson then looked to have snatched a late winner to add to earlier strikes from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
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