Keys insists Maguire shouldn't have been on pitch after his challenge on Lukic

Richard Keys has insisted Harry Maguire should not have been on the pitch for Manchester United's equaliser against Fulham.

Maguire got Erik ten Hag's level with one minute remaining of normal time via a close-range finish after Calvin Bassey had put the visitors level.

But United went on to lose through Alex Iwobi's late strike for the Cottagers, and Keys believes Maguire should have seen red earlier in the match for a nasty foul on Sasa Lukic.

Following the defender's equaliser at Old Trafford, Keys wrote on X: 'Inevitably Maguire equalises. He shouldn’t even be on the pitch. I’m sure Silva will make that very point.'

The beIN Sport presenter had earlier said: 'Harry Maguire is a very lucky boy. As clear a red as you’ll see all weekend and he was only booked by Michael Oliver.'

'VAR is a waste of time when Oliver refs. No-one will contradict him.'

Maguire clambered into Lukic's ankle in the first half, though the foul was deemed a yellow card offence by referee Michael Oliver.

It comes just days after Keys vocalised his views on VAR operators being 'scared' of Michael Oliver.

He claimed that VAR operators are scared of Michael Oliver and simply rubberstamp the official's decisions because they are 'scared'.

Oliver was embroiled in controversy during Liverpool's 4-1 victory against Brentford, having waved away penalty appeals from Ivan Toney after he received a shove in the back from Andy Robertson inside the box.

The experienced referee waved play on and his decision stood after a VAR check.

'What has happened to VAR? David Coote [VAR official] went missing because he knows that Oliver is never going to accept someone he regards as inferior sending him to a monitor.

'Operators are scared of Oliver so they back off.'

'We know this