Trent Alexander-Arnold could have quite easily been sent off just five minutes into Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle this afternoon.
The game at St James’ Park started in furious fashion, with plenty of intensity and aggression from both sides.
But there was an argument that Alexander-Arnold should have seen red early on after committing two offences.
After being knocked off the pitch by Anthony Gordon, the England international was livid and threw the ball back onto the pitch when Dan Burn came over to take the throw-in.
In line with the new rules, that resulted in a caution for Alexander-Arnold. But moments later, he put his arm across Gordon after he darted past him down the left flank.
Referee John Brooks gave the free-kick but decided against sending the player off, much to the frustration of Newcastle fans and Eddie Howe.
Jurgen Klopp screamed at Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall and told him to sit down as things got a little spicy on the touchline.
Concerned by Alexander-Arnold’s shaky start, Klopp ordered Joe Gomez to warm up.
But the general consensus was that the referee ‘bottled’ sending off Alexander-Arnold as plenty think he would have been given a yellow had he not already been booked.
One wrote: “Alexander Arnold escapes the most obvious red card you’ll ever see because the ref bottled it and didn’t want to book him twice in quick succession.”
A second said: “Blatant cynical foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold there… of course Liverpool get favoured and he escapes the 2nd yellow.”
A third opined: “So a red for Tomiyasu and not for Trent? Zero consistency as always refs.”
Another expressed their view, writing: “Absolutely lucky Trent didn’t get a red there. It’s a yellow 90% of the time, just because he had a yellow and it’s early in game he got extremely lucky.”
Things didn’t get any better for Alexander-Arnold, as he produced the error that led to Newcastle’s opener.
He badly miscontrolled a pass from Mo Salah and allowed Gordon to dart in behind and slot through Alisson Becker’s legs for the opener.
Alexander-Arnold might’ve avoided a red but Virgil van Dijk did not. Just before the half hour mark, the Dutchman was sent off after kicking through Alexander Isak to win the ball as it was deemed to be denying a goalscoring opportunity.
