Amad Diallo was the star of the show at Old Trafford on Sunday, as Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United beat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Liverpool were expected to win against Premier League rivals Manchester United away from home at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
However, it was Erik ten Hag’s side who won the tie 4-3 after extra time and booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition.
Amad Diallo stars for Manchester United vs Liverpool at Old Trafford
Amad Diallo was the hero for United. The winger, who has been struggling for playing time this season, came off the bench and scored the winner just moments before the final whistle.
Diallo replaced United defender Raphael Varane on 85 minutes. He found the target from close range in the 121st minute.
But, moments later, the 21-year-old Ivory Coast international winger was sent off. He was given a second yellow card for taking off his shirt during celebrations.
Richard Keys criticises Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister
BeIN SPORT presenter Richard Keys has slammed the rules over showing yellow cards for taking shirts off, and he has also pointed out the role that Liverpool and Argentina international midfielder Alexis Mac Allister played in the first caution handed out to Diallo.
The former Sky Sports pundit has noted how the £35 million (BBC Sport) Liverpool midfielder kicked the ball at the 21-year-old United player, which led to the referee booking Diallo for appearing to stop a free kick from being taken.
Keys wrote on his website: “Just a foot-note re-that game. I felt for both Amad Diallo and ref John Brooks. Brooks had no choice but to send Diallo off, but would anyone have cared if he’d joined in the celebrations moments later?
“It was ridiculous that he had to stay in the dressing room while everyone else at OT drank in United’s best moment of the season.
“Mac Allister doesn’t come out of what happened very well either. It was churlish of him to kick the ball at Diallo so he got booked – appearing to stop a free-kick being taken. I hate that kind of ‘professionalism’. Apolgies if it wasn’t Mac Allister, but it was bang out of order s***housery.”
While it was disappointing for Diallo to be sent off, he is a hero to the Old Trafford faithful now. After all, it was his goal that led to United winning the tie.
Diallo will hope that after he returns from suspension, he will get more playing time for United and be able to make more impact on the team.
The Ivory Coast international winger has scored one goal in four matches in all competitions this season.
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