Andy Robertson booked after appearing to be struck by assistant referee

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson was booked at half-time of Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal after complaining of being struck in the face by the assistant referee.

The Reds were involved in a number of heated moments in the first half and several players surrounded the official after the half-time whistle was blown, with Robertson ultimately booked for dissent.

Replays later emerged that showed Robertson complaining to the lead referee about assistant Constantine Hatzidakis, who appeared to strike the Scot in the face after the whistle was blown.

Robertson went to confront Hatzidakis immediately after the end of the first half but the assistant immediately raised his arm to brush the Liverpool defender away and appeared to catch him in the face.

Captain Henderson reported the incident to lead referee Paul Tierney but there was no immediate action taken aside from the yellow card for Robertson.

“Andy Robertson was absolutely apoplectic, stunned even,” Sky Sports’ reporter Geoff Shreeves stated during the interval.

“He said ‘the linesman has just elbowed me in the throat’ – Jordan Henderson was well aware of it and led the remonstrations with referee Paul Tierney and after that they got taken away. Extraordinary scenes.”