TOTTENHAM fans were left fuming when Diogo Jota remained on the pitch following a dangerous high-kick.
The Liverpool forward, 26, caught Oliver Skipp in the head in the 81st minute – drawing blood from the Spurs midfielder.
However, referee Paul Tierney deemed the foul to be worthy of a yellow card, with VAR agreeing with the official’s call.
Jota would later become the match-winner in injury time, as Liverpool overcame Spurs 4-3 in a Premier League thriller.
But many supporters believe he should not have been on the pitch to earn the Reds all three points – voicing their disapproval on Twitter.
One fan wrote: “Casemiro does this and he gets a straight red. You can’t convince me otherwise. Can’t believe VAR hasn’t even looked at Jota’s high boot there.”
Another shared: “This guy literally big booted man 🤣🤣 WWE settings.”
A third chimed: “How Jota did not get a red card is beyond me. Dangerous play.”
A fourth added: “Straight red without a doubt 😆 not even cause of my United bias, he karate kicks him right in the head.”
Liverpool and Tottenham played out a Premier League classic on Sunday.
The Reds raced into a 3-0 lead after just 15 minutes – with goals from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and a Mo Salah penalty.
Harry Kane gave Spurs hope before half-time – volleying home after 39 minutes.
Son Heung-min set up a nervy finish in the 77th minute when he calmly slotted past Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
Brazil star Richarlison then thought he had drawn his side level in the 93rd minute, before Jota raced clear at the other end just a minute later to break Tottenham’s hearts.
After the match, fuming Spurs interim boss Ryan Mason said: “It’s one of the clearest red cards I’ve seen, it’s difficult to take.
“It’s an impossible one to miss.
“When you talk about endangering an opponent, to draw blood from a stud when Skipp’s head is five-and-a-half feet in the air baffles me.
“That type of decision is maybe the difference between winning the game or not.
“It’s tough to understand and I would like an explanation.
“I saw the incident in real time and you have a feel for those sort of moments. The VAR official has the benefit of a replay.”
And Mason continued: “I would like an explanation and a reason why it wasn’t [a red card].
“I can understand referees and officials on the pitch missing it even though my feeling was an instant red card because when your foot is studs showing and you’re five-and-a-half feet off the ground and make contact with a player’s head and draw blood, and there is a gash, I think it ticks all the boxes.
“Probably more so an experienced referee in the VAR room, you want him to help the official on the pitch in that moment.
“Listen, it’s decided the game because that player on the pitch shouldn’t have been on there at the end.
“I’m pretty sure most football people’s opinions will probably feel the same.”
SOURCE: thesun.co.uk
