Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has been accused by Arsene Wenger of “cheating” against Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday.
However, the former Arsenal boss also acknowledged that he’d have found the Reds star’s reaction to Alexis Sanchez’s tackle “clever” had he been playing for him.
Fabinho found himself on the receiving end of a lunge from Alexis Sanchez in the last-16 second-leg encounter at Anfield.
Referee Antonio Matheu Lahoz showed the Chilean a second yellow card, leaving the visitors down to ten men.
Jurgen Klopp’s charges won the tie 2-1 on aggregate, advancing to the quarter-finals of the competition.
However, the Anfield faithful were made to sweat as the visitors threatened a second-half comeback.
Liverpool won the first leg 2-0 in Milan three weeks ago, thanks to goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
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On Tuesday, the Reds threatened on multiple occasions, registering 12 efforts and hitting the woodwork three times.
However, Liverpool trailed in the match from the 61st minute, Lautaro Martinez scoring a stunner for the visitors.
Less than two minutes later, Sanchez was shown his second yellow card and got his marching orders.
Liverpool lost 1-0 but held firm to win the tie and go in the hat for the next round.
The draw for the last eight takes place on 18 March in Nyon, Switzerland.
“When it’s one of your players…”
Wenger, who managed Sanchez at Arsenal, gave his verdict on Fabinho’s reaction to Sanchez’s challenge.
“Borderline between cheating and being clever,” the former Arsenal boss said on beIN Sports.
“Fabinho was on the other side… he was cheating, he made more of it.”
Wenger was then asked whether he’d be disappointed if his player did that.
“No,” he replied.
“Maybe he had pain but… he was touched by Sanchez, you cannot say it was completely fake.
“Maybe he could’ve gone up quicker, but that’s part… it’s one of his fouls.
“When it’s one of your players, you say it’s clever.
“When you’re completely neutral like we are supposed to be here we’d say he could’ve made less of it.
“He touched him well, you cannot say he fainted, but he didn’t want to hurt him, he played first the ball.”