Jamie Carragher clashes with Shay Given during heated Virgil van Dijk debate
Jamie Carragher was left bemused following a debate with Andros Townsend and Shay Given after Virgil van Dijk was shown a red card during Liverpool's clash with Newcastle on Sunday.
A difficult first half for the Reds took a turn for the worse when Van Dijk saw red for hacking down Alexander Isak on the edge of the area. The Liverpool skipper received a straight red card from referee John Brooks, who deemed that the Dutchman had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Van Dijk was left absolutely incensed by the decision as emotions boiled over on the touchline - and the incident divided opinions in the Sky Sports studio at the interval.
Carragher was adamant that Van Dijk was unfortunate to be sent off, insisting: "Virgil van Dijk does a lot wrong here; he's lazy initially in terms of not getting across. The decision to then go and make the challenge is probably ill-advised, but I still don't believe that's a red card. I don't believe there's enough there.
"How do you know that's a goalscoring opportunity? I think initially he's lazy, he should not maybe make the challenge, but that is not a red card."
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Andros Townsend chimed in, saying: "I'm on the fence here. I agree with Jamie a little bit, because you don't know [if] it's going to be a goalscoring opportunity until you see [Alexander] Isak's first touch. But then you're denied Isak's first touch because of Van Dijk swiping him and taking him out."
Given, though, had a different opinion and argued that Brooks' call was spot-on. He said in response: "I disagree, I think it's a red card." After being pushed to explain by Carragher, Given added: "Because he's come [through]. As a centre forward, he's trying to let the ball run across and then he's through one v one against Alisson, so he's denied a goalscoring opportunity."
Join the debate! Do you think Van Dijk deserved to see red against Newcastle? Let us know here.
Jamie Carragher and Shay Given clashed over the incident at half-time (Sky Sports)Carragher hit back, adding: "But we don't know if that was going to happen! The red card is not about Van Dijk giving a foul away; he's given a foul away, it's a foul, no doubt. But we don't know if he denies a goalscoring opportunity, he's actually ahead of the ball."
Townsend continued: "The only argument is, you don't know because Van Dijk swiped him," to which Carragher replied: "Yeah of course, but then, was it a denial of a goalscoring opportunity? I don't think it was!"
Carragher's claim was again questioned again by Given who reiterated he felt it was a red card. Townsend then started to respond, saying: "You can't just go around swiping strikers before they take their first touch and say: 'Not a goalscoring opportunity'."
But Carragher responded bluntly: "I said it was a foul; I said he was poor getting across, but do you think he denied a goalscoring opportunity?" Townsend replied: "I'm on the fence, I want VAR on this one!"
Given would then chime in again as Carragher shook his head, adding: "I'm not, I think it's the right decision. I think VAR had a look at it as well and John Brooks has got the right decision for me."
Carragher would then question one final time whether or not Van Dijk had denied Isak a goalscoring opportunity with Given stressing once again that he had as the segment came to a close.
Darwin Nunez was the hero for Liverpool as his last-gasp double was enough to grab all three points for the Reds, after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the first half.
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