Ex-Liverpool striker wants ref taken off all their games after VAR controversy

22 August 2023 , 06:40

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Alexis Mac Allister was harshly sent off in the second half

The ongoing feud between Liverpool and Paul Tierney has deepened after the official was slammed by one former Red over the sending off of Alexis Mac Allister on Saturday.

With Liverpool leading 2-1 in the second half, the Argentinian midfielder was red carded in the 58th minute after catching Bournemouth's Ryan Christie. There appeared little malice in the tackle, but still VAR did not order referee Thomas Bramall to review his decision.

Liverpool confirmed on Monday they would be appealing the decision, continuing a seemingly spiky relationship between the club and Tierney. The official took charge of their volatile home game with Spurs last season, and yellow carded manger Jurgen Klopp for his touchline behaviour.

The German had previously taken aim at Tierney after he famously failed to send off Harry Kane in another clash with Tottenham, back in December 2021. And now Anfield icon John Aldridge has weighed into the debate, arguing Tierney should be duly punished for his failure to intervene with the Mac Allister dismissal.

"I am baffled by that call," he wrote, in the . "It is not a red card, there is no malice in it at all. Mac Allister went for the ball and slightly mistimed it. The Bournemouth player did Mac Allister no favours by going down in the way he did, too.

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"Where the issue came from was the fact VAR did not tell the referee, Thomas Bramall, to go to the monitor and review the footage. Just because you go to the monitor doesn’t mean it is automatically going to be overturned, but at least go and look at it!"

And the former striker alluded to the fact the club had history with Tierney, labelling his conduct "remarkable" and demanding action. "Paul Tierney was the man in charge of VAR for the game and it is well-documented we have experienced a number of issues with him in the past," added Aldridge.

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John Aldridge has hit out at Paul Tierney (GETTY)

"The fact Tierney has watched that tackle back and believed there was no need to change the on-field decision is remarkable. Football players and managers are punished for mistakes they make, so why should Premier League officials get away with committing errors that can have such an impact on how games pan out? Tierney should be taken off duty for the upcoming weekend."

Aldridge, 64, also argued that "90%" of the neutral supporters would agree the red card should be rescinded, but admitted he wasn't sure if it would be overturned. Although Bournemouth fans may have noted the irony of there being no mention of the game's other controversy.

At 1-1 in the first half, Liverpool were awarded a penalty after summer signing Dominik Szoboszlai theatrically went to ground after a challenge by Joe Rothwell. Despite there appearing minimal contact at best, again VAR failed to intervene to the anger of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who called the spot-kick "soft."

Fraser Watson