'That tells you the story' - Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on ref mistake in Liverpool win over Everton

Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher agreed Ibrahima Konate was extremely lucky to not be sent off during Liverpool's 2-0 Merseyside derby win over Everton on Saturday.

Craig Pawson was forced to make a collection of major decisions at Anfield in a match that ended in the hosts' favour due to two goals from Mohamed Salah towards the end.

In a high-pressure role heightened by the fact it was a meeting between two old rivals, the referee's performance has come under scrutiny, with Gallagher the latest to provide analysis.

Questioned first whether the call to send Ashley Young off after two first-half yellow cards, he told Sky Sports' Ref Watch: "I thought so. I think both yellow cards were correct. The first yellow card was a really reckless challenge and then everybody expected him to go once on a yellow card. Even Sue [Smith]," Gallagher's co-pundit and a known Blues supporter, "told me she agreed!"

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However for the next point of contention - the most controversial during the game - the referee's union was not as strong. The 66-year-old explained why he thought Reds defender Konate was a "very, very lucky boy" to remain on the field without the same punishment as Young.

"I think there's a few things," he continued. "They're so cynical, he doesn't make any attempt to play the ball. Maybe Craig's argument is he [Beto] is not going to get the ball and Konate knew what he was doing. I think what summed it up was a minute later the bench have said to [Joe] Gomez get ready to go on, they've subbed him and that tells you the story."

Gallagher went into depth about how