EPL: Jamie Carragher disagrees with Van Dijk’s red card

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EPL: Jamie Carragher disagrees with Van Dijk’s red card

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on captain Virgil van Dijk’s red card during the Reds’ Premier League win over Newcastle United on Sunday.

Just minutes after Anthony Gordon gave the hosts the lead, Van Dijk was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Alexander Isak.

With Isak played through by Gordon’s excellent through ball, Van Dijk appeared to go through the Newcastle striker before getting a touch on the ball and being shown a straight red by referee John Brookes.

However, Carragher was left furious with the referee’s decision, insisting that it was not a red-card offence.

According to him, Van Dijk was ‘lazy’ in getting across to Isak but insisted the Newcastle player was not denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

“Virgil van Dijk does a lot wrong here,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“He is lazy initially in terms of not getting across; the decision to then go in and make a challenge is probably ill-advised. But I still don’t think that is a red card. How do you know that is a goal-scoring opportunity? Initially, he is lazy and should get over it earlier and maybe not make the challenge, but that is not a red card.”