LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 14, 2024: Referee Tony Harrington speaks to Liverpool's Andy Robertson after showing him a red card and sending him off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Why Andy Robertson will only miss 1 game after straight red card

Andy Robertson was shown a straight red card early in the meeting against Fulham, meaning he will miss Liverpool’s next game – against Southampton in the League Cup.

Robertson was involved in all the early flashpoints at Anfield on Saturday, which culminated in his red card for denying ex-Red Harry Wilson a clear goalscoring opportunity.

The left-back was the last man and took out Wilson, with referee Tony Harrington quickly reaching into his pocket to brandish a red card – consequently serving Robertson a one-game ban.

The official Premier League Match Centre, explained the decision on X, stating:

“The referee issued a red card to Robertson for a foul on Wilson which denied a goal scoring opportunity. VAR checked to confirm the red card and that Wilson was in an onside position.”

We know it is only a one-match ban as it is the predetermined punishment for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, unlike an incident where violent conduct is involved.

Robertson can serve his ban in the League Cup on Wednesday when Liverpool meet Southampton in the quarter-final.

Unlike a suspension for culmination of yellow cards, as we have seen with Alexis Mac Allister, red cards in the Premier League spill over to all domestic competitions.

It perhaps is a saving grace for Liverpool as it means Robertson can return for the trip to Tottenham next weekend, with Slot then only needing to find a solution on Wednesday.

Young left-back James Norris could come into consideration after being involved in the matchday squad at Girona, with Kostas Tsimikas unlikely to be ready to return despite making a “positive step” in his recovery.

Liverpool are currently without defenders Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley, Tsimikas and now Robertson, leaving only four first-team defenders for Slot.