Aston Villa receive new referee verdict as Liverpool told red card mistake made

Aston Villa should have been reduced to 10 men with Axel Disasi sent off in the 23rd minute of Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, says former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett.

Playing the second of a five-match run in the space of 13 days, Villa sought to get points on the board in one of their toughest challenges this season. Premier League leaders Liverpool were in tow and in the end it was the Reds had to rescue a draw against Unai Emery’s men.
However, events at Villa Park could have played out very differently if Disasi had been given his marching orders midway through the first half.
The winter loan signing was given a yellow card for an altercation with Reds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister off the ball in his own penalty area as they waited for a set-piece to be delivered. VAR checked the incident and confirmed that was sufficient punishment.

However, telling referee Craig Pawson and his team they got it wrong, Hackett said to Football Insider: “I really don’t get it. If you strike, or attempt to strike an opponent, as Disasi did against Mac Allister, then that is a red card offence.
“There was clearly force, Mac Allister went to ground pretty quickly, so where was VAR? Because Craig Pawson, I’m sorry, you got that decision wrong. You were too lenient, that player should have walked.”

Mohamed Salah went on to put the visitors into the lead six minutes after that flashpoint. Villa responded with strikes from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins before half-time, though Trent Alexander-Arnold would equalise with half an hour to spare.

As both teams had chances to win the match in the time that remained, Disasi was imperious. His six clearances kept the danger at bay whilst it was he who put substitute Darwin Nunez under so much pressure that he missed an open goal from seven yards out.