Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that Cristiano Ronaldo was lucky not to get a red card against Liverpool in the 5-0 drubbing at Old Trafford.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side already trailing their fierce rivals 3-0, a frustrated Ronaldo, who had just had an effort saved by Alisson took out his anger on Liverpool’s Curtis Jones.
After fouling the midfielder, our number seven decided to kick the ball into Jones’ chest whilst he was lay on the ground which led to a melee between the two sides.
Referee Anthony Taylor gave Ronaldo a yellow card, but Gallagher felt the five-time Ballon d’or winner may have got off lightly.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ latest edition of Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “Ronaldo was lucky the ball was there, that is what saved him from being shown a red card. What also helped was that he stopped when he did.
“It wasn’t the wisest thing to do, there is force behind the kicks, but the fact that the ball was there has done him a great favour.
“When you look at it in the end, the yellow card was the right decision. It’s difficult to say if things would have been different had Jones rolled about on the floor but he didn’t, he was very good and very professional.”
No doubts over Paul Pogba decision
Despite only being on the pitch for 15 minutes and having a direct impact in Liverpool’s fifth goal, Pogba was sent off for a reckless challenge on Naby Keita, which led to criticism.
The Frenchman lunged in on the Liverpool midfielder and caught Keita over the top of the ball on his shin.
Following an initial yellow, Taylor’s decision was upgraded to a red following a VAR review before Keita left the field on a stretcher.
Gallagher was in no doubts over the Pogba decision.
Gallagher said: “It’s definitely the right decision. The referee sees it as a yellow card because of where he is on the pitch, but when you see it back Pogba clearly goes over the ball, arrives from distance, and makes contact with Keita’s studs, and when you come from distance you gather intensity.
“The fact Keita had to leave the field on a stretcher showed how bad a tackle it was, Pogba was quite rightly sent off.”
On a day where nothing went right for Solskjaer, at least Ronaldo didn’t see red against Liverpool and face a three-game ban just like Pogba.
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