Kyle Walker narrowly avoided a red card after a heated clash with Rasmus Hojlund during the Manchester derby. The two players collided in the first half, with both receiving yellow cards from referee Anthony Taylor. Later, Hojlund took a swipe at Walker following Manchester United’s stunning 2-1 comeback win at the Etihad.
Walker’s struggles continued as he captained Manchester City to another defeat, their eighth loss in 11 matches, as they were beaten by their cross-town rivals, Manchester United. Josko Gvardiol had put City ahead in the first half, but Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot, and Amad Diallo scored the winner in stoppage time. It was another frustrating result for City, who have looked off their game under Pep Guardiola this season.
The drama between Walker and Hojlund caught attention during and after the match. Walker conceded a free-kick after tripping the Danish striker, which led to a heated confrontation. Hojlund reacted angrily and confronted Walker, who dramatically fell to the ground clutching his face. The incident sparked tensions, and both players were booked by Taylor.
Had the situation been judged more harshly, Walker could have easily been sent off. Replays showed that there was little to no contact from Hojlund, meaning Walker’s fall appeared to be a case of simulation. According to the laws of the game, players should be cautioned for unsporting behavior if they try to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled. If Walker was already on a yellow for his foul on Hojlund, he could have been shown a second yellow for his apparent attempt to deceive the referee.
