Rio Ferdinand ‘amazed’ Liverpool star wasn’t sent off against PSG

Rio Ferdinand was ‘amazed’ Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate was not sent off during the Reds’ Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool fans were fearing the worst when Konate appeared to bundle over Bradley Barcola as he raced through on goal.

But referee Davide Massa waved PSG’s passionate appeals away and after a lengthy VAR check, the Italian official was told to play on.

Manchester United legend Ferdinand was stunned that Konate was not penalised and felt the Liverpool defender should have been given his marching orders.

‘That’s a foul,’ the TNT Sports commentator said. ‘The push is in the back.

‘If that’s not a red card, I’ll be amazed. It will be a shame if they go down to ten men because you want the best players on the pitch for 90 minutes, but it’s a foul.’

After the incident was cleared by VAR, Ferdinand added: ‘Liverpool have to wake up now because they’ve had two scares. They’ve been bamboozled. They’ve got to wake up.

‘They’re lucky not to be two goals behind with ten men. I can’t believe how lucky Liverpool have been there.

‘If Barcola and Konate were shoulder to shoulder then I get it. But Konate barges him basically on the numbers on his back, between his shoulder blades. How has VAR not picked that up?’

Fellow pundit Ally McCoist added: ‘I thought that was a foul. Anyway, it’s a big break for Liverpool.’

French champions PSG had already had a goal disallowed by VAR for the tightest of offsides after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia thought he had put the hosts ahead.

Despite PSG’s domination in the first 45 minutes of this Champions League last-16 tie, the score remained goalless at the half-time interval as Alisson made a number of saves to keep Liverpool level.

‘What a first half PSG have had,’ McCoist added. ‘They have been dynamic, powerful, exuberant and skilful. They should be ahead.’

Liverpool are enjoying a sensational first season under Arne Slot, losing just three games in all competitions to take control of the Premier League title race, reach the Carabao Cup final and the latter stages of the Champions League.

But they were second best for almost the entire first half in Paris against a PSG side who have won 10 games in a row, moving 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Analysing the Champions League tie at half-time, Anfield hero Steve McManaman said: ‘Liverpool are living on the edge, they are living very dangerously.

‘They have to improve in the second half. They got away with one with that offside goal and the Konate foul. Liverpool are playing safety-first but you can’t do that here.’

Liverpool can of course consider themselves unfortunate to be drawn against European heavyweights PSG despite finishing top of the group phase.

Paris Saint-Germain finished just 15th out of 36 teams after the revamped group phase but look set to push Liverpool all the way in this last-16 tie.

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