Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta said Sadio Mane should have been sent off in the first minute of Sunday's 2–2 draw at Stamford Bridge, as VAR failed to review a clear elbow by Liverpool after just 14 seconds of play. have failed.
Mane, who scored Liverpool's first goal in nine minutes, was given a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor after a foul on Azpilicueta. But although replays suggested that Mane's challenge could be construed as violent conduct, VAR official Darren England did not request that Taylor review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Azpilicueta was clear in his insistence, however, that Mane should have been sent off.
"A clear red," said Azpilicueta. "I don't mind if it's five seconds into the game it's a red. I don't understand, we made decisions like this the other day. It's a clear red card. We're getting these decisions against us." And it could change the way the game is played.
"I watched the replays but didn't need to because live I knew it was a red one."
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel echoed Azpilicueta's comments by saying that Mane should have been shown a red card after referee Taylor handballed Reece James to Reece James during the same match between the two teams at Anfield earlier this season. sent during
"If you remember the first game with the same referee and how fast it was to give us a red card, I'm not a friend of the opening red card," Tuchel said. "I hate to say it because I love Mane and he's a good guy and top player, but it's a red card.
"The elbow is in the face — it doesn't matter if you do it after 20 seconds or 20 minutes."
Mane will now leave Liverpool to report for Africa Cup of Nations duty in Cameroon with Senegal, but was defended by teammate and captain Jordan Henderson.
"I was disappointed with the yellow card to be honest," Henderson said. "Sadio always tries and wins it. He always has his eye on the ball, I don't think there was any intention."