Liverpool receive fresh red card verdict as Diogo Jota 'lucky' after 'ankle-breaking' tackle
Dean Ashton has described Diogo Jota's tackle in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Wolves as an 'ankle-breaker'. The Reds striker escaped with a yellow card following his challenge on Mario Lemina, which caught the player on the heel.
It remains unclear whether the challenge from the Liverpool forward went to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Jota chased down the Wolves midfielder, only for his studs to catch the ankle of his opponent.
Ashton, the former West Ham striker, has blasted that decision not to show Jota a red card. Liverpool went on to take the lead through Ibrahima Konate, before Mohamed Salah restored the advantage from the spot as Jota was dragged down in the box by Nelson Semedo - with the Reds leaving Molineux with all three points.
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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher sided with match official, Anthony Taylor, citing that the action from Jota didn't fall under the remit of a 'serious or dangerous' challenge. "I think we have to be mindful that a red card has to mean something, it's got to be for a dangerous challenge or a serious challenge," he said on Sky Sports show Ref Watch.
Gallagher added: "It's not, it's a foul. It's not a red card."
However, former striker Ashton, who was on the losing side against Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup final, felt that Jota was lucky to stay on the pitch, labelling the challenge as "horrible". The retired striker said: "That to me, I like the way they changed the rule slightly that you can be in control or be accidental and it's still a red card.
"I think this is... That breaks your ankle, it's a horrible challenge - not meant - I think he's slightly out of control and unfortunate in how his foot lands, but it's landed right on his ankle from behind where your foot is in an awkward position.
"I'd look at that and go; 'They're the sort of things I'd like to not see in the game'. I think it's a horrible challenge."