It reports well-informed The Athletic.
Pickford stopped cash van Dijk early in Saturday’s Merseyside derby. The goalkeeper used his legs to cut down Liverpool’s stopper star, and the Dutchman had to leave the field with what later turned out to be a ligament injury in the knee.
It was first reported that the situation was not assessed by VAR (video refereeing), but according to The Athletic, the tackle was checked for a possible red card. The referee in charge of the video room chose not to expel Pickford.
That assessment means that the English Football Association (FA) will not punish the national team goalkeeper in retrospect. The FA only strikes at tackles that have not been assessed by the match leaders.
Sky Sports expert Graeme Souness has described Pickford’s tackle as an “assault”, while former Premier League player Ryan Mason thought it had the potential to end van Dijk’s career.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, on the other hand, defends Pickford.
– Of course it should have been a red card, but one should be a little careful about criticizing Pickford. I got my leg broken, and I almost broke Nani’s leg. Unfortunately, these things happen in football, says the Sky Sports expert.
(© NTB)
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