Jamie Carragher has publicly defended Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford following his dangerous challenge on Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby.
Van Dijk hobbled off in the early stages of Saturday's Premier League clash at Goodison Park after a wild scissor tackle from Pickford went unpunished, with the Liverpool defender deemed to be in an offside position moments earlier.
It has since been confirmed that Van Dijk has suffered an injury to his knee ligaments and will undergo surgery following the tackle.
"He could have easily been sent off."
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 17, 2020
"I'm very surprised it's just been forgotten about?"
Jordan Pickford's challenge on Virgil van Dijk did not look good 😬
Should VAR have stepped in after this? pic.twitter.com/wTcW6CHcIf
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) October 18, 2020
After Liverpool confirmed the news that Van Dijk required surgery on his knee injury, Carragher jumped to the defence of Everton's number one, referencing his challenge on former Manchester United winger Nani in 2011 that almost broke his leg.
"Of course, it should have been a red card for Jordan Pickford, it was a terrible tackle." he told Sky Sports.
"There will be a lot of frustration in the Liverpool camp, Liverpool supporters, maybe from neutrals wanting Jordan Pickford banned. I am going to defend Jordan Pickford on that.
"Yeah, it was a terrible tackle. I've had my leg broken, I nearly broke Nani's leg. These things happen, unfortunately in football, I don't think anyone goes out deliberately to hurt someone.
"I believe 99 per cent of professional footballers will not go and hurt someone.
"Jordan Pickford is all over the place with his game at the moment, he comes out, makes a crazy decision as he has been doing over the last 12 months, and very, very unfortunately one of the top players in the Premier League is in a bad way.
"I really hope and I really believe Jordan Pickford will not be in a good place tonight."
"I've had my leg broken, I nearly broke Nani's leg..."@Carra23 defends Jordan Pickford after it was confirmed that Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery for a knee injury after a reckless lunge from the Everton 'keeper... pic.twitter.com/1ib5W1paFT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 18, 2020
Graeme Souness, on the other hand, was beside himself over VAR's controversial decision and called out those behind the scenes at Stockley Park.
"That amazes me [that there was no VAR check on Pickford's tackle]." he told Sky Sports.
"If you're a football person, I guarantee every single professional, semi professional, maybe the guys in the Hackney Marshes, when they look at that, their focus is not on the offside, their focus is on one thing: The assault on a player. It's outrageous.
"For me, it's 'wow'. I'm not even thinking about offside, but these people who make these decisions, who sit in Stockley Park, can look at that and say 'that's offside'. I just don't get it.
"They just don't know what they're talking about, I've been to Stockley Park, over a year ago, it is nigh on impossible to make a mistake with the technology they have, the time they give themselves, it's nigh on impossible.
"And they can still get it wrong. That wasn't a tackle, that was an assault."
"Would you rather the best referee at Stockley Park or on the pitch?" 🤔@Carra23 gives his thoughts on VAR as Graeme Souness says they "don't know what they're talking about"! 💥 pic.twitter.com/i5qQ7sVvhQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 18, 2020
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source https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-jamie-carragher-defends-jordan-pickford-after-tackle-on-van-dijk-20201019
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