Last night saw Liverpool’s U23s take on their Brighton and Hove Albion equivalents at the Kirkby Academy in the Premier League 2. The game finished 1-1 as the pint-sized Seagulls scored late to deny the Reds all three points, however, it might have been different had the referee not decided to bizarrely dismiss Ki-Jana Hoever.
Ki-Jana Hoever sent off for a professional foul. Looked harsh from here. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) January 14, 2019
James Pearce from the Liverpool Echo was at the game, and he wrote a match report on the game which you can read here. However, a lot of the Kopites will be keen to avoid it as theyu believe they were robbed when the 16-year-old Hoever was shown a red card in the first half for what was deemed to be a last man challenge that was denying Brighton a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity.
The Liverpool fans that have seen it, though, are far from pleased. They’ve been questioning whether or not the challenge was even deserving of a yellow card, let alone a red. Things can turn around quickly in football, and for the Hoever that’s what’s happened as just one week after he made his Liverpool debut against Wolves, he finds himself being sent off in a reserve game, even if it was unjust.
You can read the Reds’ thoughts on Hoever’s dismissal here:
https://twitter.com/willd43/status/1084894169192194050
Harsh isn’t the word for it, unbelievably bad decision!
— Koptillidrop (@koptillidrop) January 14, 2019
It was a complete joke. He wasn't the last man. Yellow at most.
— Stephen Byrne (@altirishmusic) January 14, 2019
Terrible decision. Yellow card at best, wasn't even the last man
— David Mooney (@dmooney61) January 14, 2019
That was harsh! Hoever my dead body was that a Red. pic.twitter.com/sfmWjtQqxG
— Deano (@D3ANO_LFC) January 14, 2019
Possibly the worse red card I've ever seen
— Ian Harvey (@ianh_lfc) January 14, 2019
That was never a Red.. that Ref is a joke
— Piia (@PiiaMay) 14 January 2019
That’s a joke that. Shocking decision by the linesman.
— Ian Armstrong (@IanArms17896018) January 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/shillcock_paul/status/1084894458670469120
The Kopites were fuming as they saw their man sent off, and they’ll just be hoping it never happens for the youngster when he features for the senior side.
