John Aldridge has had his say on the Fabinho horror challenge on Evan Ferguson during Brighton's 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool on Sunday.
Fabinho was roundly criticised for needlessly going through the back Ferguson with his studs launching straight into the 18-year-old's achilles area.
VAR received much of the blame as well, for not advising the referee to award what was a clear red card, for a challenge which saw Ferguson limp off early and leave the stadium in crutches.
Thankfully there was good news today, and it appears that the in-form Dubliner should be back in a matter of days.
However, ex-Liverpool and Ireland attacker John Aldridge went against the grain and implied, in his column for the Liverpool Echo, that the challenge was part of a positive effort from Liverpool to get more 'stuck in.'
"Liverpool put in some robust challenges in the second half against Brighton, but far from seeing that as a problem," wrote Aldridge. "I think that's the manager saying you can't be an easy touch. Get stuck in.
They know we’ve been getting bullied in some games recently, but we didn’t on Sunday and that was one good thing for me.
I don’t mind yellow cards, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want people to get sent off.
John Aldridge Comes Out With A Strange Take On Fabinho's Horror Tackle On Evan Ferguson
John Aldridge in his Liverpool Echo column supports Fabinho over Evan Ferguson challenge. pic.twitter.com/iDxp0Fc9r6
— paul rowan (@paulrowantree) January 31, 2023
Horrible challenge by Fabinho pic.twitter.com/K2ODiZTjBj
— EmanDaGoon™ (@EmanDaGoon) January 29, 2023
READ HERE: Liverpool Midfielder Fabinho Rightly Hammered For 'Horror Challenge' On Evan Ferguson
“Fabinho’s was just a late challenge," continued Aldridge. "I don’t think he meant to hurt Evan Ferguson.
“The manager’s said to them ‘Don’t mess about, get stuck in’, and that’s one thing you can say that the team did do against Brighton.”
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), who oversee referees in English football, have since admitted that Fabinho should have been issued a red card.
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