Adam Lallana was sent-off playing for Liverpool U23s on Monday after an altercation with Tottenham Hotspur’s George Marsh.
Lallana has not played since the defeat to Swansea City on January 22 after suffering a little tear in his thigh. The midfielder’s comeback was cut short just past the hour mark when he reacted angrily to a challenge from Tottenham Under-23 captain Marsh in the second-half, with Spurs 1-0 up at Stevenage’s Broadhall Way stadium.
The 29-year-old got to his feet and jumped on his opponent from behind, grabbing Marsh’s neck around with his right hand while pushing the player’s head down with his left. The referee produced a straight red to the Liverpool player for his actions in the 61st minute.
Lallana had to be dragged away by teammate Danny Ings and was shown a straight red card before heading down the tunnel.
On Monday, the England international started for the under-23s in the Premier League 2 fixture along with Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke and Ben Woodburn. As reported by the Express, luckily for Jurgen Klopp, Lallana will still be available for Liverpool’s first-team despite being shown a straight red card as the three-match ban only applies to U23 matches.
That would mean Lallana would be available for first-team selection. Liverpool’s next three Premier League games are against Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle United.
The former Southampton man has had an annoying season of injury setbacks. The midfielder has made only seven appearances all term and his last appearance was in the away defeat to Swansea on January 22.
Seeing Lallana entirely lose his head in the 1-0 defeat to Spurs, this is how the Liverpool fans reacted on Twitter, with many claiming for a ban in the Premier League too.
Judging by this .he will be banned .you can’t react like that
— Maddo_31⚽Richard.LFC (@Richard_mad31) February 5, 2018
I saw he got sent off but not for this
— Cam Philpotts (@PhilpottsCam) February 5, 2018
Good because we miss him to so much
— sollah mohammed (@SollahMohammed) February 6, 2018
The club should give him a ban themselves. Absolutely disgraceful this.
— Anita (@AnitaHartgers) February 6, 2018
lol – it was a shocker. I think that’s one of the worst reactions to a challenge I’ve seen since the days of Edmundo…
— Ian L (@ianl1) February 6, 2018
Grabbing a kid by the throat from behind is proper shithouse behaviour. Adam Lallana hang your head in shame. #lfc
— Red Mysterio (@redmysterio96) February 5, 2018
so much for Lallana being a “new signing”. Has to hold it together.
— Howard ⚽️ (@haf118) February 5, 2018
Tbf he deserves a ban for that reaction! Way over the top. What a tit…
— Chris Begley (@begslfc9) February 5, 2018
Bin him at end of season, get him off the wage bill, part of a big clearout ,doesn’t contribute enough to warrant his massive wage
— Christian Cullen (@ChristyCLFC) February 5, 2018
It was a frustration of the senior team game
— yogesh (@jabralfcfan) February 6, 2018
Utterly stupid of him. He should be an example for the younger players not get involved in such disturbing acts. This is just stupid of him and definitely should be punished even at club level.
— Stanley Fenech (@sfenech) February 5, 2018