Alexis Mac Allister was harshly done by when receiving a red card on his Anfield debut for Liverpool today.
The Argentine was sent for an early bath after a high leg caught Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie with the Reds 2-1 up. Thankfully it didn’t impact on the result, as a quick Diogo Jota goal dampened the Cherries hopes of a comeback.
But it will mean that Mac Allister is suspended for Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle next week at the very least. And writing on Twitter after the incident, Michael Owen said it was incredibly harsh on the Reds man.
“No way on earth is that a red card for MacAllister. Yellow at most,” wrote the former Liverpool striker.
Hopefully there’s still grounds for an appeal from the Reds, as it really didn’t look like a red card.
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Pundits rally around Mac Allister
Owen wasn’t the only one who felt Mac Allister didn’t deserve to see red on his Anfield debut.
Reacting to the incident on BBC Sport, pundit Dion Dublin also said the 24-year-old had been hard done by.
“I think so [he was hard done by]. It was literally just two loose legs, coming to side foot the ball, same height, he’s there fractionally late,” Dublin explained.
“There’s no malice in it at all, it’s not a straight leg. I think it’s a yellow card at most.”
Dublin’s co-pundit Glenn Murray was another in agreement that a yellow would have been fine for Mac Allister.
“Like Dion said, he just beats Mac Allister to the ball,” began the pundit. “It’s soft at best.”
Such a shame for Alexis who’ll be devastated this evening, despite Liverpool winning. Fingers crossed something can be done to wipe the suspension.