Diogo Dalot Gets Two Yellow Cards in Microseconds As Manchester United Hold Liverpool to Draw

• Manchester United frustrated Liverpool to come out with a goalless draw at Anfield
• It was a much-improved performance from the visitors after humiliation last season
• Diogo Dalot's red card in stoppage time would be a huge talking point from the game

Manchester United put in an impressive shift to hold Liverpool in a closely contested match on Sunday night, December 17.

Erik ten Hag led his side back to the venue where they shipped seven unanswered goals last season.

They were looking to bounce back from the Bournemouth humiliation last weekend and their UEFA Champions League elimination in midweek.

Liverpool dominated the game as expected, but United's unlikely centre-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Johnny Evans kept the Reds at bay for 90 minutes.

Diogo Dalot's two yellow cards

The real bone of contention came in stoppage time when centre referee, Michael Oliver showed United's Diogo Dalot two yellow cards in the space of 10 seconds.

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The Portuguese full-back tussled with Mohamed Salah near the corner flag and thought he had won his side a throw-in. However, it was awarded the other way, much to the frustration of Dalot.

Oliver promptly booked a visible case of dissent before the official dished another yellow card in quick succession. Sports Brief understands that both yellow cards were for dissent.

The referee's body in England, Professional Game Match Officials Limited, has cracked down on player dissent this season, with any disagreement met by a booking from the officials.

As of last month, over 80 yellow cards have been issued for dissent alone - an increase of over 25 percent - as captured by Sky Sports.

Sin-bins to curb dissent?

Sports Brief has previously reported on football law-makers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) considering introducing new changes to how players' abuse of referees is dealt with.

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The IFAB is planning to introduce a 10-minute sin bin, popularly used in rugby, to protect referees from abuse. The plan was approved to proceed for trials in lower leagues during IFAB's AGM last month.

The draw against United on Sunday, marked by Dalot's successive yellow cards leading to his sending-off, saw Liverpool drop to second on the table after Arsenal's win over Brighton earlier that day.