By Alan Hutton

1st Feb, 2023 | 2:23pm

Pundit shocked by 'crazy' Fabinho as Liverpool controversy analysed

Alan Hutton is “shocked” Fabinho was not sent off for Liverpool in their FA Cup clash against Brighton on Sunday (29 January).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender insisted the tackle by the 29-year-old on Brighton’s Evan Ferguson was “crazy”.

As shown on ITV (29 January), the Liverpool midfielder caught Ferguson with a late challenge and resulted in his substitution.

The Brazil international seemed to accept that he was about to receive a red card but was only cautioned by David Coote – whose decision was backed up by VAR official Neil Swarbrick.

The Seagulls went on to win the game 2-1, thanks to a stoppage time winner from Kaoru Mitoma, knocking Liverpool out of the cup competition.

As per the BBC (30 January), referees’ body PGMOL has now accepted that Fabinho should have been dismissed for the challenge.

Hutton couldn’t fathom how Fabinho was allowed to stay on the pitch.

“It was a shocker,” he told Football Insider.

“I genuinely do not understand. How it is not a red card I will never know.

“It is from the back, it is dangerous. It ticks all the boxes for a red card. He knew himself, it is a crazy tackle.

“It sounds strange to say but he probably didn’t mean it but once he did it he realised what he had done. It is a shocker of a tackle.“

In other news, according to an expert, Liverpool are ready to cash in amid £5bn ‘war’ – ‘biggest threat in Premier League history’.