By Keith Hackett

12th Apr, 2022 | 8:30am

Ex-Fifa official: Fabinho 'lucky' to escape extended ban as controversial Liverpool v Man City image emerges

Fabinho was “lucky” not to be sent off as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Man City yesterday (10 April), according to Keith Hackett.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Anthony Taylor should have been instructed to look again at Fabinho‘s challenge on Bernardo Silva.

With less than 10 minutes to go, the 28-year-old lunges into a challenge with Bernardo just outside the Liverpool area.

Taylor showed him a yellow card for the offence and VAR did not deem it clear and obvious error so did not intervene.

A red card would have seen him banned for the Reds’ next three domestic games – the FA Cup semi-final with City and league games with Man United and Everton.

“After another look at that Fabinho one, VAR didn’t come in because Taylor is in a good position and made his judgement,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.

“It’s not a clear and obvious error so he wants to stay out of it.

“I’ll go with the judgement of Taylor and say that Fabinho is lucky that he didn’t get a red. That type of challenge where you come in from the back and are off the ground, you can face the consequences. The consequences should be a red card.

“With the way we operate VAR in England, I would have liked Taylor to have another look at that. Not in slow motion though. The problem with slow-motion or a still photograph is they look worse than they are.”

In other news, Kieran Maguire has shredded ‘untrustworthy’ Liverpool owners FSG as the Government takes action.