Saturday night couldn’t have gone much better for Liverpool — a strong win, a clean sheet, and an all-around dominant display.
Mo Salah’s landmark 250th goal for the club, followed by a well-taken finish from Ryan Gravenberch in the second half, sealed Liverpool’s first Premier League victory in six weeks. The result lifted them to third in the table overnight and gave fans a much-needed reason to celebrate.
However, one moment in the game left Arne Slot far from pleased. The Liverpool boss was reportedly frustrated by a controversial incident involving Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana — an act that many felt deserved a straight red card.
Onana’s clash with Mac Allister
In the 73rd minute, as Villa prepared to take a corner, chaos broke out in the Liverpool box. Referee Stuart Attwell had to step in after Onana appeared to grab Alexis Mac Allister by the neck, pulling him to the ground.
Cameras caught the shocking moment clearly, yet Onana escaped with only a yellow card. Many wondered why VAR didn’t intervene to review what looked like violent conduct.
A lucky escape
While nobody wants to see players unfairly dismissed, Onana could hardly have complained if a red card had been shown.
Any contact to the neck or head area is risky, and even if the force wasn’t extreme, it’s the kind of move that often leads to serious punishment.
Mac Allister’s reaction may have seemed exaggerated, but his frustration was understandable — especially since moments later, both Dominik Szoboszlai and Aston Villa manager Unai Emery were booked for a minor disagreement on the touchline.
Relief for Liverpool
Despite the controversy, Liverpool held firm to secure a deserved win. The final whistle brought huge relief around Anfield as fans celebrated a confident performance and a much-needed return to form.
The Reds can now build on this momentum, though the incident involving Onana will likely remain a talking point for days to come.
