Liverpool handed red card verdict vs Brighton as Arne Slot left fuming

• Liverpool FC News
• Features
• Liverpool FC

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard believes Yankuba Minteh should have been sent off during Brighton's 2-1 victory, backing Arne Slot's furious reaction to referee Darren England

Arne Slot was left visibly angry on the touchline after Brighton escaped a potential red card against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has voiced his belief that Brighton's Yankuba Minteh should have received a second yellow card for simulation during Saturday's game.

Arne Slot was visibly incensed when referee Darren England chose not to penalize Minteh in the first half of Brighton's 2-1 victory. Minteh, already cautioned in the Premier League's early kick-off, dramatically fell to the ground as Brighton played the ball behind Jeremie Frimpong and Minteh sprinted to reach it first.

England dismissed the Brighton winger's penalty claim, but also refrained from punishing him for diving. Slot was subsequently seen berating the referee whilst gesturing a diving motion with his hands.

Liverpool entered half-time on equal terms at 1-1 with the Seagulls, only to suffer further insult shortly after the interval when Minteh played a hand in Danny Welbeck's second goal, putting Brighton ahead once more. The Seagulls clung on to secure a 2-1 win, denting Liverpool's top-four aspirations.

When asked during the half-time break on TNT Sports if Minteh should have been dismissed, Gerrard responded: "Well I think he's extremely lucky. It has been a great battle down that side - they've both got blistering pace. The ball gets played in behind here, there's no contact and he just goes over.

Yankuba Minteh went over in the box looking for a penalty(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

"It is a dive in my opinion and he gets away with one here. He's very very lucky. I'll be surprised if the manager keeps him on much longer actually with [Kaoru] Mitoma on the bench, so keep an eye out for that as well."

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch then added: "I agree with Arne Slot there. It was obvious that he was looking for the penalty and he quite easily could have gone there."

Welbeck put Brighton in front with a close-range header in the 14th minute before Lewis Dunk's mistake allowed Liverpool to draw level. The Brighton center-half flicked on a long ball towards his goalkeeper, only for Milos Kerkez to anticipate it and chip Bart Verbruggen for 1-1.

After Minteh escaped a red card - and Fabian Hurzeler chose against substituting him - Brighton regained the lead in the 56th minute. The winger delivered a delightful cross for Jack Hinshelwood, who cushioned it back into the path of Welbeck to side-foot home.

Minteh remained a menace down the left flank for Brighton, compelling Giorgi Mamardashvili into a save one-on-one minutes later after breaking through on goal. He was substituted by Mitoma in the 76th minute as Brighton comfortably saw out their fourth victory in the last five matches to climb to eighth in the Premier League table.