Liverpool left relieved as double disciplinary boost confirmed for Man United and Arsenal
With referee Andy Madley feeling trigger-happy with cards during Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace, the Reds will be relieved that two players in particular avoided having their names taken.
Jurgen Klopp’s side ran out 2-1 victors against the 10-man Eagles thanks to late goals from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott, with the result taking them top of the Premier League table.
Joe Gomez and Luis Diaz were the only Reds players to be shown yellow cards by Madley, though Virgil van Dijk would see his own caution overturned for conceding a penalty by fouling Odsonne Edouard after a VAR review called the attack back for a Will Hughes foul on Wataru Endo.
In contrast, Palace would be issued eight cards, including manager Roy Hodgson, with Jordan Ayew being shown his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Chris Richards, Jefferson Lerma, and Naouirou Ahamada would also all be shown yellow cards, with the Eagles being issued with an automatic £25,000 fine for ill-discipline from the FA as a result. Unsurprisingly, Hodgson was not best pleased after the final whistle.
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Ayew must now serve a one-match ban following his dismissal, while Ward, having now been shown four yellow cards so far this season, is one more away from being issued with an automatic one-match ban. Fortunately, as we head towards the frantic festive period, Liverpool continued to avoid any such disciplinary tight-ropes.
Players are automatically handed a one-match ban if they pick up five bookings during a club’s first 19 games of the
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