An indication of how the game has changed over the years is prevalent by the increasing number of red cards issued by the match officials.
On Saturday, away to Watford, Jordan Henderson became the latest Liverpool player to make the lonesome walk back to the dressing room, after seeing red.
Now, we’re not saying that Jordan was hard-done by, he transgressed the rules, as they stand today, receiving the apt punishment and in his interview with the media after the game, as reported by the BBC, Jurgen Klopp had no qualms about the decision, remarking:
“It happens. Jordan Henderson was not happy about his mistake but what a guy he is. He has a heart like this, so sometimes it leads you on the wrong path. We wanted to change him but we were a little bit too late.”
But, on the journey home, I couldn’t help but reminisce about how things used to be.
To receive a red-card, back in the days, you had to commit a horrendous offence, either scything a player down or being involved in an unsavoury brawl. Who’ll ever forget the Charity Shield encounter with Leeds United, a game that saw our own Kevin Keegan exchanging blows with the fiery Leeds midfielder, Billy Bremner.
Now that was a sight to behold!