Dejan Lovren Criticises Ross Barkley After Tackle in Liverpool's 3-1 Everton Win

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

Dejan Lovren believes he is owed an apology from Ross Barkley after being fouled by the Everton midfielder in Saturday's Merseyside derby. The 27-year-old said: "If I show you [my leg] it will be headlines tomorrow."

Per Press Association Sport (h/t ESPN FC), Lovren took issue with the midfielder's failure to apologise after a poor challenge in Liverpool's 3-1 win:

That is the only thing I do not like. If you make a hard challenge then be open about it and say sorry or something like that.

Don't talk to the referee and say it was not a foul. I think everyone saw it, especially me, but now it is over. If I show you [my leg] it will be headlines tomorrow.

Barkley was booked for the foul.

The 23-year-old was fortunate to remain on the pitch having previously made two other bad tackles in the match before his clash with Lovren.

Liverpool writers Paul Tomkins and Jack Lusby were among many who took issue with the Toffees man:

So too did Everton writer David Downie, though while he believed the challenges were a result of the midfielder's commitment, Liverpool colleague Joel Rabinowitz felt he crossed a line:

The booking was just his fourth this season, and prior to the derby, he had committed 34 fouls in 26 matches, according to Squawka.

Videos you might like

Barkley has never received a red card in his senior career having made over 200 appearances for club and country, though he was once sent off while playing for the Toffees' reserve side.

While discipline has evidently not been a significant issue for him, he could easily and should have received his first red card on Saturday.

He'll need to be more careful in future—particularly in the next few weeks given he might well be under more scrutiny than normal.