Michael Owen responds as Liverpool and Newcastle fans both furious over Trent Alexander-Arnold red card call
Liverpool and Newcastle United supporters were left divided over whether Trent Alexander-Arnold should have received a red card during the first half of the meeting between the sides on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds' right-back was booked in the sixth minute of the match after throwing the ball away, moments after being tackled by ex-Everton winger Anthony Gordon. Already cautioned, there were then appeals for Alexander-Arnold to be dismissed after holding Gordon back as he looked to make his way forward.
Of the view the West Derby-born defender was lucky to escape a second yellow, Michael Owen tweeted: "It should have been a second yellow card but the referee creates a rod for his own back by not giving Trent the foul he deserved that led to his first yellow."
Alexander-Arnold's first caution relates to new Premier League guidance being followed by referees this season, which encourages officials to hand out cards to players believed to be deploying time-wasting tactics. These changes have resulted in an increase in both yellows and reds being brandished, as explained in a recent article by the ECHO.
Liverpool's No.66 was booked for a similar offence during the Reds' opening day draw at Chelsea, accused of delaying the match while taking a throw-in.
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