Keith Hackett says Fernandinho should have been sent off

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho was saved by his reputation against Liverpool on Sunday, according to former referee Keith Hackett.

Writing for The Telegraph, Hackett explains that the player’s ‘friendly reputation’ prevented him from being sent off after clashing with Liverpool forward Sadio Mane during the game.

The two players clashed after a tackle on the Senegalese international and Fernadinho grabbed Mane by the face in an attempt to force him away.

However, the player escaped punishment for the incident, despite many supporters and Hackett himself, believing Fernandinho should have been sent off.

I felt that Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho should have received a straight red card for a forearm smash on Sadio Mane midway through the second half, and to my mind it was a classic example of a player’s reputation getting them out of a potentially tricky situation.

Simply put, the Brazilian does not have a reputation as a dirty player. He makes the occasional foul, obviously, but he is rarely involved in incidents of violent conduct and always behaves in a polite and respectful manner towards officials. That does make a difference when it comes to these types of incidents.

A red card would have undoubtedly changed the game drastically as the two sides played out a 0-0 draw at Anfield.

City’s big-money summer signing Riyad Mahrez had the chance to steal all three points late on from the spot, but he sent a penalty sailing way over the bar.

The result leaves Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all sat on 20 points at the top of the Premier League after eight games.