Liverpool have gone down to 10 men after midfielder Curtis Jones had his yellow card changed to a red by VAR after an ugly coming-together with Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has been sent off following an “ankle-breaking” stamp on Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma.
The 22-year-old was initially shown a yellow card for the challenge, but a VAR review saw referee Simon Hooper change it to a red, much to the frustration of Jurgen Klopp on the touchline. Jones and Bissouma were both stretching for a lose ball and reached it within milliseconds of each other, but the Reds star’s foot plunged into Bissouma’s leg in the follow-through.
Fans on social media were split over the incident, with some believing it to be a “stonewall red card” and others viewing it as “harsh”. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote: “Dangerous, but more clumsy than anything – foot rolled over the ball. Probably no choice for a red.”
“How can anyone claim that’s not a red? He literally went studs up on his leg,” another said. A third added: “Potential leg-breaker. Had to go.”
Another, however, wrote: “Slow motion always makes things looks worse. Jones makes contact with his leg yes but it’s not direct contact. His foot skims off the ball. Harsh red for me.” Gary Neville on commentary agreed, saying: “I know when you’re doing someone. I’ve done it myself. [Jones] wasn’t there to do someone.”
