Vitor Pereira was left frustrated after Ibrahima Konate avoided a second yellow card during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a hard-fought win. First-half goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in control, but Matheus Cunha’s stunning strike in the second half made for a tense finish.
The match could have been even more nerve-wracking for the Reds, as many felt Konate was lucky to stay on the pitch. The French defender received a yellow card for pulling back Cunha and moments later committed another foul, barging into the Wolves forward near the edge of the box.
Wolves players and fans erupted in protest, demanding a second yellow, but referee Simon Hooper showed leniency. Aware of the risk, Slot substituted Konate at halftime, bringing on Jarell Quansah to avoid a potential red card.
Pereira was adamant that Konate should have been sent off, telling Match of the Day:
“I am not the referee, but yes, for me, it was a second yellow. What I say now won’t change anything, but in my opinion, he should have been sent off.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added:
“Everything I say now won’t change the decision. I have my opinion, but I will keep it to myself. It’s better not to speak about referees. Maybe it was a second yellow. It would have changed the game, but it is what it is. I am very happy and proud of my players for how they performed in the second half.”
In his post-match press conference, Slot admitted that Konate’s substitution was precautionary but defended his defender, arguing that neither of the challenges warranted a yellow card.
“Yes, I took him off because of that,” Slot said. “The first yellow was soft, and if he had been given a second one for a shoulder push, that would have been soft too.
“I think the referee felt the same, which is why he didn’t book him again. But I’ve watched football for many years, and I know that once a player is on a yellow, every foul puts him and the referee under pressure.
“For Ibou, it was tough to play 45 minutes against a strong Wolves team, so I had to take him off. You can’t play freely knowing you can’t afford another foul, especially against a team as dangerous as Wolves.”
With no red card shown, Konate will be available for Liverpool’s next match against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.