Liverpool make decision on Mac Allister red card after Bournemouth boss' verdict
Liverpool are ready to launch an appeal over Alexis Mac Allister's red card, which has been condemned as "ridiculous" by the world of football.
The Argentine World Cup winner was sent off on his Anfield debut - a controversial 3-1 win - for an innocuous challenge on Bournemouth's Ryan Christie that left pundits incredulous it wasn't overturned by the VAR. Match of the Day's Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer both condemned the decision by referee Thomas Bramall, and the inaction by the VAR Paul Tierney, who has a history of run-ins with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
And now Klopp has indicated that he is ready to appeal to the FA to try and get the potential three-match ban overturned for his summer signing. Mac Allister's woes meant an unexpected debut for Liverpool's new signing, Watoru Endo, who played half an hour as a substitute after the dismissal, despite only getting international clearance only hours before the game.
Liverpool's midfield resources are several stretched, with Thiago and youngster Stefan Bajcetic both returning from injury and Endo still settling in at Anfield. And if any Mac Allister appeal is not upheld, then it could hasten Klopp's return to the transfer market, with the manager suggesting his business is not yet over in the summer window.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola humbly suggested post-match that he didn't think the Argentina international deserved to be shown a red card. When asked if he thought that Mac Allister's dismissal was justified, Iraola admitted: "I don't know. In real life it did not look like a red card." The Bournemouth boss added: "For me the red card was more kind of orange, it is a difficult decision for the referee. I understand."
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Quizzed on the likelihood of an appeal to the FA - which if successful would see Mac Allister available to face Newcastle, Aston Villa and Wolves in the Premier League - Klopp replied: "Let's see what we can do, for sure we will try and talk to the people about it."
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Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister was sent off on his home debut against Bournemouth (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)The Liverpool manager went on to say: "We have to talk about it and everyone agrees. I 100 per cent understand how it looks for the ref in that moment but when you see it back, it's the inside of the foot with no power in it. We've seen harsher challenges that weren't red cards that should've been.
"I think we should talk about it. If he said it was a yellow, the VAR wouldn't have upgraded to a red card. Everything is lacking for a red card, the intensity. Yes, there was contact but there must be a different intention when it's a red card. We will talk to the people about it."
Another controversial moment in the lively meeting was when Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute with the scores at 1-1. New signing Dominik Szoboszlai fell theatrically after Joe Rothwell stuck out a leg on the right of the box, allowing Mohamed Salah to put Liverpool ahead after scoring the rebound following Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto's initial save.
Iraola felt the decision was "soft," but he didn't get his hopes up by expecting that VAR would advise Bramall to overturn his call. "We were doing pretty well and then the penalty came," the Spaniard, who was appointed this summer after three impressive years in charge of Rayo Vallecano, explained.
"It is soft. There is contact but it is a soft, soft contact. It was not an easy game to referee. If there is contact normally they don’t ask for second opinions. It was quite clear."
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