Mignolet should have been sent off for tackle on Diouf

Jurgen Klopp insists it's vital Liverpool are 'back to winning ways' amid Premier League title charge despite being knocked out of Europe by Atalanta… and says it's 'insane' that Trent started
Liverpool failed but gave fans hope that the Jurgen Klopp era can still have a magical ending, writes LEWIS STEELE
West Ham gave everything against a team that appear to be invincible, writes KATHRYN BATTE as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen reach Europa League semis
PLAYER RATINGS: Two Liverpool stars score just 5/10 as Jurgen Klopp's side fail to deliver comeback against Atalanta to crash out of Europa League
Pantomime Villan! Emiliano Martinez avoids getting sent off DURING penalty shootout for winding up Lille fans thanks to little-known rule… before Aston Villa keeper saves decisive spot-kick
The Premier League is poisoning our game and their hand in having FA Cup replays scrapped is another spoonful of arsenic down the throats of the smaller clubs, writes OLIVER HOLT
Arsenal and Man City count the cost of tired legs and weary minds, writes JACK GAUGHAN: Yes, Gunners were naive and Pep's boys wasteful, but fixture jam played a part in Champions League exits
Max Verstappen priced at 1/6 to make it four wins out of five this season at Chinese Grand Prix - with Lewis Hamilton 40/1 to secure his first victory since December 2021
Arsenal identify THREE positions to strengthen in the summer in wake of Champions League exit, with significant funds to be made available for transfers
EFL in UPROAR over decision to scrap FA Cup replays from next season - with surprised clubs branding it a 'DISGRACE' and furious executives claiming they will seek compensation
Ronald Araujo offers blunt response to Ilkay Gundogan's criticism that his red card against PSG fueled Champions League exit... amid toxic Barcelona dressing room split
For a man who has been handed everything, Lewis Hamilton needs to stop feeling sorry for himself
Liverpool lacked the 'belief' required to pull off comeback at Atalanta, says Peter Crouch after his former club crashed out of the Europa League as he insists Reds were 'disappointing'
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso hints that David Moyes calling his bench a 'disgrace' last week sparked bust-up with West Ham dugout in return leg that saw two assistant coaches sent off
Mo Salah's first-half miss proves crucial in Liverpool's Europa League defeat by Atalanta as Peter Crouch insists 'it's not that difficult' and proves the Egyptian is out of form
Emiliano Martinez's ludicrous antics detract from his enormous talent, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE as Aston Villa keeper's shootout heroics book Europa Conference League semi-final
Michail Antonio BLASTS officials in post-match rant following West Ham's Europa League loss to Bayer Leverkusen... as forward insists his side 'remained professional' despite frustrations
Emiliano Martinez claims it was his 'destiny' to be Aston Villa's shootout hero against Lille... as Argentine's antics help Unai Emery's side reach Europa Conference League semi-finals
West Ham assistant Billy McKinlay is SENT OFF after furious touchline row with Bayer Leverkusen staff... sparking a mass brawl among the players in chaotic Europa League clash
Peter Crouch reveals he was 'left SCREAMING for a red card' during Liverpool's crunch clash with Atalanta... after Isak Hien was spared sending off despite handball as last man
Premier League suffer yet ANOTHER critical blow in UEFA coefficient rankings after West Ham and Liverpool Europa League defeats... with hopes of earning an extra Champions League spot all but over
AC Milan players are confronted by the club's ultras after their defeat to Roma in the Europa League... as Stefano Pioli's side are knocked out the competition after 3-1 aggregate loss to rivals
'Is that for prisoners?': Liverpool fans left stunned by Atalanta's away end for crunch Europa League tie... with 1,000 Reds to be situated in the corner of the ground in frightful-looking stand
Haaland and De Bruyne had nothing left in gruelling Real Madrid loss and Rodri is begging for a rest... but who out of NINE players clocking 3,000-plus minutes has played the most? How Man City were run into the ground in quest for double treble

The speed of the tackle from Simon Mignolet endangered Mame Biram Diouf
Referee Martin Atkinson only issued a yellow card to the Liverpool goalkeeper
Lee Mason, Neil Swarbrick and Graham Scott have made poor decisions this year

Published: 17:32 EDT, 30 November 2017 | Updated: 18:24 EDT, 30 November 2017

e-mail

Simon Mignolet should have been sent off for his first-half assault on Mame Biram Diouf in Liverpool's win at Stoke.

The tackle alone warranted a red card, while others felt the denial of a goalscoring opportunity was the reason he had to go.

Martin Atkinson, perhaps the most experienced referee on the select group list, decided that neither was valid and issued just a yellow card.

Simon Mignolet should have been sent off for this wild lunge on Stoke's Mame Biram Diouf

Looking at the tackle it is impossible not to conclude that the speed of the tackle, the height of the boot and Mignolet's reckless attitude must have endangered Diouf's safety.

Refereeing standards have been pretty high but there have been some awful decisions this season. Here are three other shockers...

Lee Mason - Southampton v West Ham (August 19)

West Ham's Mark Noble somehow escaped after a deliberate, studs-led tackle on Mario Lemina. It appeared to be retribution for Noble as Lemina had just caught Marko Arnautovic with a leading arm.

Graham Scott - Leicester v Man City (November 18)

As Jamie Vardy raced through on goal, Vincent Kompany brought him down to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Neil Swarbrick - Manchester United v Brighton (November 25)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could have been straight back on the treatment table after a wild two-footer from Shane Duffy, who was only booked.