Monday 23 March 2015 13:40, UK
The dismissal of Liverpool's Steven Gerrard against Manchester United was "madness" and "stupid" according to the Sky Sports football experts.
Gerrard was brought off the bench to start the second half as manager Brendan Rodgers looked to reignite his faltering team who trailed 1-0 to Juan Mata's cool opener after a tame showing in front of their home fans.
The former England captain made a strong tackle on Mata but it was a second challenge where he stamped on Ander Herrera that forced referee Martin Atkinson into showing the red card just 38 seconds after his introduction.
It’s not how he or anyone around Liverpool would like to see him go out because of what he’s done for the club
It was the 16th red card in Premier League meetings between the two teams.
Gary Neville, co-commentator at Anfield, said Gerrard had been brought on to help Liverpool but would be left ruing his "stupidity".
"He's on for more reasons than one," Neville said. "His one (tackle) on Mata was a crunching challenge but I think he might have been stupid. Steven Gerrard will know from the experience that he has. It's the emotions sometimes - when you're playing a fixture like this."
Carragher, former team-mate of Gerrard, was critical of the lunge on Herrera and was concerned his 18-year Liverpool career might end on a sour note.
"It was a moment of madness. There’s no doubt - there would be frustration," Carragher added.
"He's always been the man, the captain. There’s never been a case where he’s been out of the team and as soon as he’s fit he goes straight back in the team.
"Watching the first time from the bench, he’d have been disappointed. Liverpool weren’t playing well, they were losing but I think he’d have been watching players in his position, performing not great, and thinking: ‘Why am I not playing? Why am I not on that pitch?’
"Steven Gerrard is an emotional player - you see that in his career. He’s taken teams I’ve played in into some unbelievable moments. There’s no doubt being a local player, the emotion of these occasions, the frustration coming into this game, has contributed to the moment of madness.
"He’s been injured, he’s been out of the team, he could potentially have six games left in his Liverpool career. But it's a straight red there's no arguments with that. You can't do that on a football pitch, he's been rightly given his marching orders."
Gerrard is entering the last two months of his Liverpool career and will leave the Premier League for the MLS in America at the end of this season. Sunday's clash was his last game against fierce rivals United.
Carragher added: "He wouldn’t have wanted it to end like this. He’s still got five or six games. From the club’s point of view firstly, but from his point of view, I’d love to see Liverpool get in the FA Cup final for him.
"But the way it’s gone since that Boxing Day game, it’s not how he or anyone around Liverpool would like to see him go out because of what he’s done for the club, you want to see someone like that go out on a massive high."
Thierry Henry, also in the TV studio at Anfield, said: "Gerrard will be upset. He knows he lets the team down, but will it affect everything he's done at Liverpool? I don’t think so. He should have done better though."
