Liverpool news: Fabinho and teammate should be banned v Man City as controversial images emerge – expert
Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara should be banned for Liverpool when they face Man City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday (16 April).
That is the view of ex-Aston Villa and England attacker Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the pair’s performances in last weekend’s (10 April) 2-2 draw between the two sides in the Premier League.
Fabinho, 28, was lucky to avoid a straight red and a three-game domestic ban for a foul on Bernardo Silva in the 83rd minute.
Just two minutes later, Thiago, 31, brought down Kevin De Bruyne on a yellow card but Anthony Taylor awarded Liverpool a free-kick.
A second yellow would have seen him serve a one-game domestic ban and miss tomorrow’s game at Wembley.
“I think they were lucky,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“especially with the rules these days where you can’t really tackle like you used to. They will definitely feel lucky to get away with it.
“The referee probably looked at it and thought ‘It’s been a great game, there’s nothing malicious about the tackles, maybe I won’t send the player off’.
“It was a great spectacle for the Premier League, one of the best games I’ve watched this season and I felt very lucky to be there to watch it live. It definitely lived up to the hype.”
Both Fabinho and Thiago were rested as Liverpool drew 3-3 with Benfica on Wednesday (13 April) to secure their place in the Champions League semi-final.
Jurgen Klopp made seven changes from the side that drew at the Etihad with one eye on the FA Cup semi-final.
In other news, Liverpool are ‘worried’ about Virgil van Dijk after a ‘weird’ development.