Alexis Mac Allister has been sent off in Liverpool’s second Premier League game of the season.
It quickly became clear to viewers of the Community Shield clash between Arsenal and Manchester City earlier this month that the Premier League would have a different feel this season.
This game marked the beginning of changes mandated by the game’s legislatures to eradicate wasted time, increase game time on the ball, and eliminate on-field abuse. A major focus has been verbal abuse against referees, linesmen and fourth officials after Premier League clubs were fined a combined total of over £1million for passing and clashing massive.To address these issues head-on, it has been decided that players will now be banned for unsatisfactory behavior, such as gesturing for a yellow card and sprinting towards or around the referee.
To avoid wasting time, goalkeepers and outfield players who spot such tactics will now receive an immediate warning and will not receive a first warning. Mikel Arteta felt the full force of this law change after 17 minutes at the Community Shield at Wembley, where he was sent off for demanding a penalty for Rodri after a foul on Kai Havertz. And it wasn’t long before Liverpool suffered similar consequences.The look on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s face says it all after being booked by referee Anthony Taylor in the Reds’ first game of the season against Chelsea.
The 24-year-old thought the throw-in was taking too long, he looked at the referee’s book and was visibly stunned by this call.
Later in the game, as the new lead re-emerged, Alexis warned Mac Allister that he was signaling Taylor to book a Chelsea player.
