Jamie Carragher blasts the refereeing decision that led to his first-ever red card, joking that it was an example of ‘great defending’…and labelling the striker involved a ‘coward’ for going down to easily

Jamie Carragher blasted the decision which led to his first-ever red card 25 years ago, joking that the incident was an example of ‘great defending’.

The former defender was dismissed only three times in a Liverpool career that spanned nearly two decades and included over 700 appearances for the Merseyside club.

Carragher was treated to a trip down memory lane during CBS’s coverage of the Champions league this week, as he was made to relive the first of these indiscretions. 

The incident occurred during the second half of a top-flight clash against Charlton Athletic at the Valley, when Carragher, attempting to fend of the jostling Martin Pringle, caught the attacker with a flailing arm to the face. 

Referee Mike Reed opted to show the then 21-year-old a straight red, which he reacted to with some amazement. Nearly three decades later, his feelings on the matter are unchanged.  

Carragher was given a straight red card by referee Mike Reed for catching Swedish striker Martin Pringle in the face

‘How do you get red carded for that?’ Carragher said on Tuesday night. ‘I just get my arm across, great defending – what a coward you are. get up.’

Gerard Houllier’s side conceded the game’s only goal just two minutes later through Keith Jones, as Charlton secured much-needed points in their fight against the drop. 

As for the Reds, they had put the French boss in sole charge after he had begun the season as joint-manager with Roy Evans. The peculiar arrangement was untenable and eventually fractured with the Reds’ icon’s departure in November 1998. 

Liverpool were made to endure a pretty miserable campaign in which they lost 14 games and finished seventh, though the next season yielded a fourth-place finish that built the foundation of their treble cup success a year later.