Rodgers fumes after Mirallas escapes with a yellow after horror lunge on Uruguayan

Rodgers fumes after Mirallas escapes with a yellow after horror lunge on Uruguayan

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was again at the centre of a flashpoint in Saturday’s Merseyside derby — but this time he was the victim.
Suarez was left with two studmarks on the side of his knee and blood  trickling down his leg after a horror tackle by Everton forward Kevin Mirallas during a pulsating 3-3 draw at Goodison Park.
Liverpool medics were involved in a heated row with Everton players as they sought to treat the Uruguay striker, and Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers was staggered referee Phil Dowd allowed Mirallas to escape with a yellow card.

Escaped: Kevin Mirallas of Everton receives a yellow card for this challenge on Luis Suarez

Lucky boy: Referee Phil Dowd took his time to give Mirallas a booking

Cries: The Uruguayan lay injured on the floor after the tackle, but did continue with the game

Eventually: After a long deliberation Dowd finally showed the yellow card for the challenge - it may have deserved a red, however

Battered and bruised: Suarez was left with stud marks on his right leg

‘He should have been sent off,’ he said. ‘It was a really, really poor challenge. It was down the side of his knee and could have ended his career.
‘It would have been interesting if Luis had made the challenge. It looks worse with every angle and slow motion. Jumping in like that was naughty. It took Luis 15 minutes to run that off.

Rodgers: Mirallas should have been sent off for Suarez tackle

Not impressed: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said 'career-threatening' tackles like Mirallas' need to be 'eradicated' from the game

‘I knew it was bad when Luis stayed down. I’m used to him rolling around but he always gets up quickly, but this was more serious.
‘Mirallas had another one later on, where he jumped up and came back down on Luis.’
Everton players clearly thought Suarez was making too much of the first-half challenge and several of them, including defender Sylvain Distin, crowded around the player as he lay on the floor.

Martinez: Referee was right to show Mirallas yellow card

Late drama Daniel Sturridge earned Liverpool a late point in a thrilling game on Merseyside

But Liverpool’s medical staff had seen the incident on a monitor and knew it was serious so were pushing players out of the way.
Suarez was accused of being a diver by ex-Everton manager David Moyes after last season’s derby at Goodison but current boss Roberto Martinez said he could see why Liverpool were angry.
But he added: ‘The referee was right to give a yellow card. It was a forward’s challenge.’
Suarez scored Liverpool’s second goal after a 7,000 mile trip back from Uruguay.

Disagree: Everton boss Roberto Martinez felt a yellow card was the right decision

Handshake: Despite their different view of the incident the pair shared a handshake at the end of the game

SPORTSMAIL'S DOMINIC KING AT GOODISON PARK

'Wasn't this supposed to be the serene derby? Kevin Mirallas is very lucky not to have been shown the 12th red card in the last 18 meetings between these sides. 
'High, reckless and dangerous, he has left stud marks in Luis Suarez's leg but, for some reason, Phil Dowd has only brandished a yellow card. 
'Everton looked out of sorts since Suarez put Liverpool ahead again, making silly fouls.'

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