Dermot Gallagher explains why Alexis Mac Allister Liverpool red card was wrong and what 'deceived referee'
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher and ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock have both disagreed with the decision to send Alexis Mac Allister off against Bournemouth.
The 24-year-old dismissed early in the second half of the Reds' first home match of the 2023/24 campaign, which notably was also Mac Allister's home debut.
Thomas Bramall's decision was made in a split second after the No.10's boot clashed with Ryan Christie's ankle and VAR made no intervention - a decision that the club have since appealed on Monday ahead of the trip to Newcastle.
But speaking before the club's move to see the three-game ban rescinded, Gallagher and Warnock discussed the incident on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch segment.
'The owners really want' - FSG's next move is clear after Jurgen Klopp hint about Liverpool transfer
Eddie Howe 'crossing his fingers' as Newcastle dealt key blow before Liverpool
Asked his opinion, Gallagher responded: "Not a red card, for me. I think the problem here is the referee thinks this is a high tackle but it only becomes a high tackle because both players are there.
"If you look the boot actually catches him on the ankle, so if his foot was on the ground he'd still catch him in the same place so it's not a high tackle. That is what has deceived the referee."
This is in direct defiance of another former referee, Mike Dean, who agreed with the call on Saturday.
Gallagher was then asked could an appeal be successful. To this he sat on the fence, saying: "They would have to convince the panel that it was a clear and obvious error by the referee."
Taking a stance against this was Warnock, who disagreed with both the red card and the way in which his former club would have to argue their case to the Football
Read on liverpoolecho.co.uk
