Tuesday 22 August 2017 09:12, UK
Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker didn't deserve to be sent off during Pep Guardiola's side's 1-1 draw with Everton, according to Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
Walker was dismissed for two quick-fire yellow cards just before half-time and his first came after a mistimed tackle on Leighton Baines.
Moments later came the game's major flashpoint as Calvert-Lewin and Walker came together under a high ball and the Everton man fell to the ground. Referee Robert Madley deemed City's £50m summer signing, who had his back to Calvert-Lewin, the aggressor and showed a quick second yellow.
However, Neville, who thought fourth official Michael Oliver could have been in decision-making process, insists the referee got the decision wrong.
"Kyle Walker has done nothing wrong there in my mind," Neville told MNF.
"I did it in every single challenge. If someone is bigger than you then you establish your position, make contact before the ball comes and try and head it.
"He's gone down and we haven't got the clearest view in the world as to whether his shoulder goes into the underneath of his chin.
"He might have got a little one with his shoulder, but it's certainly not a second yellow card. The referee has got it wrong."
The former Manchester United defender added: "I genuinely thought at the time - and only the referee will be able to tell us - that Michael Oliver was involved.
"The fourth official has got a good view of it, but we won't know and the referees won't tell us.
"They are in communication, they are in contact and they are an active official.
"We don't get to interview the referees, but I genuinely felt he had been given information."
Carragher agreed on the decision with his fellow Sky Sports pundit and thought Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin let himself down with his reaction to Walker's challenge.
"The second one is not a yellow card,"
"I go back to my own days. I always did that - bumped a striker and tried to knock him off balance while the ball's on its way.
"As the ball was in the air I was jostling with people, trying to knock them out of the way.
"He just bumps him into his chest and it's absolutely nothing and he goes down.
"We've sung the praises of Calvert-Lewin tonight, he was outstanding, but he's let himself down there with the reaction, holding his face when he hasn't touched him in the face."
