Nev and Carragher say Walker red was wrong

Ian Watson

Jamie Carragher believes Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin “let himself down” with his reaction to the challenge that earned Kyle Walker a second yellow card.

Manchester City defender Walker was dismissed just before half-time during last night’s 1-1 draw after two cautions in quick succession; the first for a challenge on Leighton Baines before clashing with Calvert-Lewin when challenging for a high ball.

Carragher felt Walker was harshly treated by referee Robert Madley, who Gary Neville believes may have received help from fourth official Michael Oliver.

Neville also believes a second yellow card was the wrong decision.

“Kyle Walker has done nothing wrong there in my mind,” Neville told Monday Night Football.

“I did it in every single challenge. If someone is bigger than you then you establish your position, make contact before the ball comes and try and head it.

“He’s gone down and we haven’t got the clearest view in the world as to whether his shoulder goes into the underneath of his chin.

“He might have got a little one with his shoulder, but it’s certainly not a second yellow card. The referee has got it wrong.”

The Sky Sports pundit added: “I genuinely thought at the time – and only the referee will be able to tell us – that Michael Oliver was involved.

“The fourth official has got a good view of it, but we won’t know and the referees won’t tell us.

“They are in communication, they are in contact and they are an active official.

“We don’t get to interview the referees, but I genuinely felt he had been given information.”

Carragher was disappointed with Calvert-Lewin.

“The second one is not a yellow card,” he said.

“I go back to my own days. I always did that – bumped a striker and tried to knock him off balance while the ball’s on its way.

“As the ball was in the air I was jostling with people, trying to knock them out of the way.

 “He just bumps him into his chest and it’s absolutely nothing and he goes down.

“We’ve sung the praises of Calvert-Lewin tonight, he was outstanding, but he’s let himself down there with the reaction, holding his face when he hasn’t touched him in the face.”