'I worry...' – Ex-ref chief raises safety concerns over Alexis Mac Allister tackle in Liverpool clash

Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett says Mac Allister should have been booked for a dangerous sliding challenge on Wharton in the 60th minute, not carded later for a separate incident.

Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace featured a controversial moment in the 60th minute when Alexis Mac Allister caught Adam Wharton with a sliding challenge without winning the ball. Referee Harrington did not award a foul, prompting calls from Palace fans for a red card.

Former PGMOL head Keith Hackett told Football Insider the challenge warranted a yellow card for endangering an opponent's safety, though not a red. "I worry about these types of challenges," Hackett said. "It has to be yellow. Make no mistake, it has to be yellow because it's a danger to the safety of an opponent."

He noted Mac Allister had enough contact with the ground to control his challenge and avoid excessive force, but the lack of any sanction was wrong.

Mac Allister was later booked in the 83rd minute for a separate incident. Hackett expressed concern about inconsistent refereeing on such tackles and suggested an early yellow might have altered the match's outcome.