Liverpool Favourite: Suarez Would Have Received Red For Tackle

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes Luis Suarez would have received a red card if he had produced the same tackle as Kevin Mirallas, who was handed a yellow for a shocking challenge on the Uruguayan in the Merseyside derby.

Everton drew 3-3 with Liverpool in a thrilling encounter at Goodison Park on Saturday with Romelu Lukaku scoring a brace to put the Toffees ahead before Daniel Sturridge secured a point in the 89th minute.

But it was the tackle from Mirallas, who scored Everton's first, that was a big talking point with the referee only showing a yellow card for what was perceived by many as extremely reckless.

And Lawrenson has argued that the incident ruined an otherwise exciting derby and should have been a red, which it most certainly would have been if it were Suarez making such a challenge.

"No doubt about it, Luis Suarez would have been sent off had he committed the studs-up challenge (right) that earned Kevin Mirallas only a booking on Saturday," he told the Mirror.

"It's a shame because it ruined a magnificent derby in which both sides were superb.

"Everton will know they were lucky though, and that Suarez is a victim of his reputation."

Brendan Rodgers agreed that Mirallas' tackle on Suarez should have been a red card and he was surprised the forward wasn't sent off.

"Mirallas should have been sent off," he claimed.

"It would have been interesting had Luis made that challenge. He's just caught him right on the back of his knee and that can end your career. It took Luis 10 or 15 minutes to recover and it was disappointing."