Why Darwin Nunez Escaped a Red Card Against Southampton
The reason behind Darwin Nunez avoiding a red card for his reckless challenge against Southampton on Saturday has now been explained. The Uruguayan forward appeared to lash out at Kyle Walker-Peters in frustration while Liverpool was trailing 1-0 at Anfield. However, referee Lewis Smith opted to issue only a yellow card. Nunez later played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s comeback, scoring the equalizer and winning a penalty that contributed to their 3-1 victory.
The win secured another crucial three points in the title race. Unless Arsenal stages an extraordinary comeback or the league leaders suffer a shocking collapse, Liverpool seems on course to claim their second Premier League title in five years. However, rival fans have once again pointed to controversial decisions and good fortune as factors favoring Arne Slot’s team.
While Liverpool’s luck has sparked debate, Southampton also benefited from questionable calls. Mike Dean argued that VAR failed to properly assess Will Smallbone’s goal for offside. Additionally, new details have emerged clarifying why Nunez was not sent off.
Mike Dean Weighs In on the Decision
Sky Sports reported that Nunez’s first-half challenge was not deemed a red card because it was not considered serious foul play. Instead, the referee saw it as reckless, warranting only a yellow card.
Premier League referee Mike Dean supported the decision, stating, “I think the right call is yellow. It looks bad, but from another angle, it’s knee-on-knee. Initially, it seems like he’s completely launched himself at Walker-Peters, but he hasn’t.”
However, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart had a different view during his Match of the Day analysis. “On the replay, you can see he misses the ball. Luckily, he also misses the player because that could have been a disastrous incident, especially with Liverpool already trailing 1-0 at the time,” Hart remarked.
Liverpool’s Upcoming Fixtures
As Liverpool continues its pursuit of a treble, their next challenge comes in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. They currently hold a narrow 1-0 advantage heading into Tuesday’s clash at Anfield. Beyond that, they will turn their focus to the League Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley next Sunday.
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