Erik ten Hag's seven-word verdict on Man Utd red card in Liverpool draw that says it all

Diogo Dalot was bizarrely sent off late on in Manchester United’s goalless draw at Liverpool after receiving two yellow cards in a matter of seconds. 

Booked for loudly protesting the award of a throw-in to Liverpool the right back then continued to remonstrate and received a second yellow card almost instantly and was dismissed by referee Michael Oliver.  It left the Portuguese defender - and many watching - bemused, largely given the speed with which referee Oliver reached back into his pocket to send off the United man. 

While he said very little, it appears Erik ten Hag’s view on the matter was clear. When asked post-match about the quick-fire bookings, he said: “I will leave the judgement to you.” 

Having taken the decision of many managers this season to say little, rather than get himself in hot water, Ten Hag’s main concern now will be having to rejig his defence once again, having patched a backline together so many times this season. 

United also can’t appeal the decision as it was for two bookable offences, rather than a straight red card, despite the rapid-fire nature in which the cards were dished out. Dalot will serve his one-match ban when the Red Devils travel to West Ham United on Saturday lunchtime in their final game before Christmas. Ten Hag does at least have a like-for-like replacement available as Aaron Wan-Bissaka was an unused substitute at Anfield.