The 36-year-old Southampton midfielder caught Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch on the shin with a studs-up challenge at St Mary’s Stadium. Despite the severity of the tackle, referee Sam Barrott issued only a yellow card, and VAR did not intervene, allowing Lallana to remain on the field.

Keane, analyzing the incident in the Sky Sports studio, expressed his outrage. “He’s out of control and not even looking at the ball. If that were me, I’d have been sent off without question, and I wouldn’t have argued against it.”

The former Manchester United midfielder suggested that Lallana’s reputation and his connection to Liverpool as a former player may have influenced the officials’ decision. “They’ve probably considered his character and thought he’s not the type to make a nasty tackle. Plus, none of the Liverpool players seemed too upset, likely because he’s an ex-teammate. But he’s gotten lucky there—it’s a red card for me.”

Keane, who shares the record for the most red cards in English football history with 13, was adamant that the tackle deserved harsher punishment.

Ultimately, the decision didn’t alter the result, as Liverpool secured a convincing win. Dominik Szoboszlai took advantage of Southampton’s defensive errors to help The Reds claim victory on the South Coast.