JUST IN: Mike Dean argues that the referee’s decision was a major mistake that cost Liverpool dearly ❌️, and he has presented strong points to justify his stance.

Mike Dean says referee ‘100%’ made a big first-half error which’ll have Arne Slot spitting fire

Mike Dean, a former Premier League referee, condemned the decision to issue only a yellow card to Andreas Pereira for his tackle on Ryan Gravenberch during Liverpool’s clash with Fulham. On Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, Dean stated that Pereira’s challenge, which struck Gravenberch on the top of his Achilles, deserved a red card. He emphasized that Pereira was “nowhere near the ball” and that the challenge was deliberate, making it a clear case for a red card. This incident occurred soon after Issa Diop received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Andy Robertson.

Dean’s frustration is entirely understandable—Pereira’s reckless tackle could have caused a severe injury, though fortunately, Gravenberch escaped unharmed.

To compound Liverpool’s troubles, moments later, the 28-year-old Pereira scored by heading in Antonee Robinson’s cross, with a slight deflection off Robertson.

The Reds’ defense should have handled the situation far better, especially given their lackluster performance in the first half-hour. The most aggravating aspect is that the player who scored for Fulham should have already been sent off by that point.

Adding to Liverpool’s woes, Robertson’s red card coincides with Kostas Tsimikas still recovering from injury, leaving Arne Slot without a seasoned left-back for this game and possibly the next three.

Yet again, a Premier League match that could have been thrilling is overshadowed by officiating errors, ensuring the referees, rather than the players, dominate post-match discussions.