'It'll ruin the game' - Gary Neville gives strong verdict on Liverpool red card

Gary Neville disagreed with Curtis Jones' red card after the midfielder was sent off after 25 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur, going as far to say the decision will ruin the game.

With the scoreline at 0-0 and both sides having had early chances, the 22-year-old went in for a 50:50 challenge with Yves Bissouma in Spurs' defensive half.

Jones' foot connected with the ball, skimmed over the top of it and the underside of his boot made contact with the lower leg of his opponent.

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Referee Simon Hooper brandished the yellow card at first, however after being prompted by VAR Darren England to check the monitor he altered his initial call to hand out the red card.

Instantly reacting on commentary duty for Sky Sports, former Manchester United defender Neville was in staunch opposition.

"No, I know when you’re doing someone on purpose, I’ve done myself in the past, and he’s not doing that," he said. "He’s [the VAR] showing him [the referee] the end motion and that’s not how it actually is - his foot slips over the top of the ball. It’s never a red card and he’s going to get one if it'll ruin the game.

"I think generally, he’s gone in genuinely but his foot slips on top of the ball. I’m not sure, I never am nowadays, I’m less sure about football than I ever have been but I don’t think he’s gone in with any malice.

"If you see the end part of it in slow motion, you’ll come to the conclusion that it’s a red card. You have to look at the full motion at full speed, the speed of these players going into the tackles, Bissouma is flying in and so is Curtis Jones.

"But look, I felt a