Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Premier League

Harri Burton

Mon 18 May 2026 14:00, UK

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Alexis Mac Allister and Ezri Konsa both could have been sent off during Aston Villa’s 4-1 win over Liverpool at Villa Park.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Reds’ midfielder should have been caught for “blatant cheating” on Friday, 15 May.

Unai Emery’s side claimed a 4-2 win over their rivals, both of whom are challenging for Champions League qualification spots, and it could have ended very different inside the Liverpool penalty area.

In the 71st minute, VAR were forced to check an incident after Chris Kavanagh stopped play, with Mac Allister hitting the deck, clashing with Konsa at a corner kick. It was embarrassing from the Argentine.

Alexis Mac Allister incident deserves to be reviewed for simulation

While replays showed the two grabbing and pushing each other, it was nowhere near enough for the Reds’ No.10 to fall to the floor in need of treatment, and he’s now been called out for it.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “This is the cynical side of football. Why did the player have that altercation? Why did they both have their hands in each other’s faces? 

“They’ve opened themselves up to being sent off. It’s because they know they can get away with it, thanks to poor officiating. When you get someone who goes down and stays down, the referee isn’t a medic, so he has to stop the game.

“This is the type of incident that should be re-refereed, not necessarily to undermine officials, but because it’s an act of simulation, which, in effect, is cheating. The game has a long way to go to resolve the issue of blatant cheating.”

Liverpool star gets caught cheating again

It was only last month when Hackett was criticising the Argentine for an act of simulation, with a Liverpool penalty being overturned during their Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG.

Mac Allister was deemed to be fouled by Willian Pacho, only for a VAR review to take place, and the decision to be overturned. The midfielder threw himself into the defender’s path.

He really needs to be careful if he wants to avoid picking up unecessary cautions. Referees could soon be putting a target on his back, and for a midfielder with a big challenge, that is the last thing he needs.

Arne Slot could do with having a word or two with Mac Allister before the final game of the season.