Liverpool may have already secured the Premier League title, but their weekend clash with Arsenal was anything but uneventful. Although Mikel Merino was the only player shown red, ex-referee Keith Hackett believes Andy Robertson should have also been dismissed.
The Reds stormed into halftime with a 2-0 lead thanks to quick goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. However, Arsenal responded in the second half, equalizing through Gabriel Martinelli and Merino, who later received a second yellow and was sent off.
The match ended 2-2, but the late drama extended beyond the scoreboard. Merino’s dismissal caught attention, as did the Anfield crowd booing Trent Alexander-Arnold amid reports of his upcoming transfer to Real Madrid. Yet, more controversy might have gone unnoticed.
Hackett: Robertson Should Have Been Dismissed for Saka Incident
Keith Hackett, a former top-flight official, argued that Robertson should’ve seen red for allegedly grabbing Bukayo Saka by the neck in the first half. During a tussle for a lofted pass, Robertson appeared overly aggressive, but referee Anthony Taylor didn’t even call a foul—and VAR stayed silent as well.
Hackett addressed the moment online after a fan raised it, saying: “What is your view on Robertson grabbing Saka by the neck to pull him back? It seems to have brushed under the media.” Hackett replied: “I wrote about it immediately. This was a red card offence.” He added that inconsistent officiating on holding fouls is hindering players’ expression.
Despite Hackett’s firm stance, the incident hasn’t received widespread media coverage, suggesting it may not have been as straightforward as he claims. On Sky Sports, fellow former referee Dermot Gallagher disagreed, saying: “I just can’t see how that can possibly be a red card.”