JURGEN KLOPP was left fuming after Curtis Jones was given a “harsh” red card against Tottenham.
The Liverpool midfielder received his marching orders after 25 minutes for a tackle on Yves Bissouma.
CURTIS JONES IS SENT OFF!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2023
.@GNev2 disagrees… pic.twitter.com/D7Z21Oorvk
But Gary Neville felt the punishment was harsh as his foot slipped over the ball before making contact with Bissouma’s leg at an awkward angle.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “I know when you’re doing someone, I’ve done it myself. He wasn’t there to do someone.
“He’s showing him the end motion which looks bad but that’s not how it’s ended up there. His foot has just slipped over the top of the ball.
“I think he’s gone to try to tackle the ball. It’s not for me a red card.”
His colleague Jamie Redknapp agreed, saying Jones was unfortunate to see red.
“I think it’s extremely harsh. He’s trying to nick the ball away from Bissouma.
“It doesn’t look good don’t get me wrong but for me it’s not a red card. A yellow card would have sufficed in that situation.”
Referee Simon Hooper overturned his initial yellow card after consulting the VAR monitor – all under the watchful eye of Klopp.
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The Liverpool boss could be seen smiling sarcastically and aiming a few words at the official before he decided to brandish a red to Jones.
Several fans sided with Klopp and Neville, claiming Jones did not deserve to be sent off.
One said: “Unfortunate tackle. No malice involved and shouldn’t be a sending off IMO.”
Another added: “Anyone looking at that picture is going to scream it’s a red, anybody who sees what the referee saw on the screen gives a red.
“You actually see the footage sky show and see his foot roll off the ball, it’s not a red card. Yellow is absolutely spot on.”
