Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate was rightly sent off against Arsenal, according to former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher.
The 24-year-old received two bookings in the defeat at the Emirates Stadium as Jurgen Klopp’s side were pegged back at the top of the table. Konate received his first caution on 55 minutes as he pulled Kai Havertz to the ground as he attempted a breakaway.
Konate then received his marching orders with two minutes of normal time remaining as he blocked off the German forward, a decision which Klopp seemed unhappy with on the sidelines. Discussing the incidents on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher felt the right decision was reached but Havertz did not cover himself in glory.
“Can he have any complaints? I’d say no,” Gallagher explained. “The first one, he wrestles him to the ground – on another day if [Virgil] Van Dijk hadn’t been back, was he denying him a goal-scoring opportunity? Certainly a yellow card.
“For the second one, Havertz doesn’t do himself any favours [clutching his head] but he deliberately blocks him off.” Reviewing the incident in the studio, former Premier League footballer Jay Bothroyd was unconvinced by Konate’s first yellow.
“The players are coming together,” Bothroyd explained. “He’s pulled him slightly but I’m not sure if that’s a yellow. The second one, definitely.”
Ultimately it was a bad day at the office for the Reds regardless of Anthony Taylor’s decisions. Arsenal went ahead inside a quarter of an hour as Bukayo Saka tapped home into an open goal following Havertz’s parried shot.
Liverpool were level before the interval thanks to a comical own goal from Gabriel. However, the hosts retook the advantage when a Van Dijk and Alisson mix-up gifted Gabriel Martinelli with an easy chance.
Leandro Trossard wrapped up the three points in second-half stoppage time as he fired the ball home from close range underneath Alisson. The result leaves Liverpool two points clear of the Gunners at the summit but Manchester City are five points behind with two games in hand.
