Roy Keane insists Adam Lallana should have been sent off against Liverpool but says the Southampton star was likely saved by his reputation

Roy Keane is adamant that Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana should have been sent off against Liverpool during Sunday’s Premier League game at St Mary’s.

Lallana was shown a yellow card by referee Samuel Barrott midway through the first half after an ugly challenge saw his studs make contact with the left ankle of Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch.

But Keane felt that Lallana – who played 178 games for Liverpool between 2014 and 2020 – got lucky. 

When asked during Sky Sports’ half-time coverage if Lallana should have seen red, Keane replied: ‘Oh I think so. He’s not in control. He’s not even looking at the ball.’

Keane – who received 13 red cards during his career in English football – added: ‘I would have been sent off for it.

‘I would have been, 100 per cent, and I probably would have had no complaints.’

Keane then went on to suggest that Lallana may have gotten off lightly due to his reputation as a nice guy.

‘They’ve obviously looked at the player there and gone, “Oh, well, he’s not really a nasty type”, said Keane.

‘None of the Liverpool players are after him. They were all polite with him, he’s an ex-team-mate.

‘I think he’s got away with one. The more I look at it the worse it is. I think it’s a red.’

Despite seemingly being let off by the officials, Lallana still departed Sunday’s game early. The 36-year-old was subbed off in the 37th minute after suffering an injury.

It was still 0-0 when Lallana fouled Gravenberch. But Liverpool went on to win 3-2 in a topsy-turvy contest.

Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring on the half-hour mark after Southampton made a mess of playing out from the back.

Goals from Adam Armstrong and Mateus Fernandes then turned the game in the Saints’ favour.

But Mo Salah hit back with a brace for the Reds, who are now eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.