Man Utd star Dalot sent off v Liverpool for two yellow cards in just two seconds

17 December 2023 , 18:30

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Man Utd star Dalot sent off v Liverpool for two yellow cards in just two seconds

Diogo Dalot was sent off during the final moments of Manchester United's 0-0 draw away to Liverpool for two yellow card offences in the space of just two seconds.

Both bookings were for dissent against referee Michael Oliver. Sunday's bizarre incident occurred when the Portuguese right-back couldn't believe that Liverpool had been awarded a throw-in in an attacking area as the final seconds ticked away.

Dalot, 24, firstly slammed his arms and gesticulated towards Oliver when the decision was initially made. Still throwing his arms around and shouting while the referee pulled out his yellow card, the Portugal international then committed a second offence and was subsequently shown a red to end his day slightly earlier than the other 21 players on the pitch.

It was the main piece of drama in an otherwise dull game, coming in the 94th minute. Former United striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live: "He was absolutely fuming. He was right, it was a Man United throw but he kept reacting. Two cards in the space of two seconds, ridiculous!"

Fortunately for Dalot, his dismissal didn't lose United their hard-fought point, with Liverpool producing a disappointing performance after going into the mouth-watering clash as strong favourites. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk went closest for the hosts, with the latter forcing United goalkeeper Andre Onana into a decent save in front of the Kop.

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Diogo Dalot was shown a 94th-minute red card on Sunday (PA)

In the second half, Alexander-Arnold whizzed a shot round the post after good work from Mohamed Salah. Contrasting Liverpool's emotions, United were pleased with the result and former captain Gary Neville declared on Sky Sports: "It'll be a huge relief to Erik ten Hag because it's been a horrible week, with what happened against Bournemouth, going out of the Champions League with an inept performance against Bayern Munich.

"Today, there was no doubt the clouds were circling and there was no Manchester United fan, including myself, that thought United would come out of here alive. Liverpool have been poor, well below par in this game. Their final third play was awful. Well done to them for showing a little bit of fight. To get a point here and a clean sheet is an unexpected result."

Nathan Ridley