PSG star Marco Verratti lucky to avoid red card after awful challenge on Liverpool ace Joe Gomez
Italian star lunged into the 21-year-old with his studs-up during the Champions League clash
MARCO VERRATTI was lucky to remain on the pitch after a horrific challenge on Joe Gomez.
The Paris Saint-Germain star, 26, managed to escape with just a yellow card from referee Syzmon Marciniak.
Verratti lunged into the Liverpool star with his studs-up after he lost control of the ball.
He caught Gomez halfway up his calf with a high and late challenge - which would be deemed as a red card offence by many.
Jordan Henderson raced over to the official after he witnessed Verratti's moment of madness.
But the 21-year-old did not make a fuss and the referee only decided to pull the yellow card out of his pocket.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock claimed on BBC Radio 5 live that Verratti might have got lucky.
He said: "The referee made the decision very quickly, and with the speed it happens, you think it might be yellow initially. But Marco Verratti might have got away with one there."
While one Twitter user added: "Verratti goes if that's a Premier League."
Another added: "Nasty, nasty challenge from Verratti that... surely a red card #PSGLFC"
Liverpool would have been given a huge boost if PSG were reduced to ten men following their slow start to the clash.
Juan Bernat opened the scoring for the Ligue 1 side before Neymar doubled their tally after 37 minutes.
But Liverpool legend James Milner managed to pull one back from the penalty spot on the brink of half-time.
