Thomas Frank claims Wataru Endo should have been sent off against Brentford

Brentford manager Thomas Frank believes Wataru Endo was fortunate not to be sent off for his challenge on Christian Norgaard during Liverpool's 3-0 victory over the Bees at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah took his goal tally in English football to 200 following his brace on Sunday afternoon, with Diogo Jota adding a wonderful curled effort as Liverpool claimed a crucial three points against Brentford.

The Reds now find themselves just a point off Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, with a trip to the Etihad Stadium next up after the international break.

Despite a comfortable scoreline, VAR was still heavily involved at Anfield.

Darwin Nunez saw two goals ruled out for offside with the game still goalless, the first of which was disallowed after the Uruguayan's right toe was beyond the line of the last Brentford defender.

However, the decisions from Stockley Park favoured Liverpool in the second half.

Kostas Tsimikas was adjudged to have just kept the ball in play in the build-up to Salah's second goal, while Endo also went unpunished for a meaty challenge on Norgaard in the second half that was looked at by VAR.

While Stuart Attwell decided there was no need for on-field referee Paul Tierney to intervene, Frank believed the Japan captain should have seen red for the tackle.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Frank said: "Back in the day there would be a lot less red cards. I think in this situation back in the day, it is never a red card.

"I think in the football we play, I think the referee missed a foul on a yellow card on the pitch. With VAR it is a different situation but even with VAR I think we get it wrong.

"It shouldn't be a red card but, I will come back to it, with this slow image we get today and you see a clear foot on the leg and the footage I have, four bloody marks on Christian's legs, then it is some contact with extensive force. So he got the ball with enough force to make the mark.

"It was like Curtis Jones against Tottenham and Marcus Rashford against Copenhagen and there are probably more. Josh Dasilva was one against Newcastle a couple of years ago. With that in mind, then it is a red card. I think all four shouldn't be but the way it is now, it should be a red card."

Endo was certainly fortunate to escape a yellow card in his full-blooded 50-50 challenge with Norgaard, although a red card would have been extremely harsh.

Rather than thinking the offence itself was worthy of a sending off, Frank appears to be lamenting the lack of consistency from Premier League officials.

However, with some of the red cards that have gone against Liverpool this season, including Alexis Mac Allister's dismissal against Bournemouth that was later overturned, Frank is unlikely to get much sympathy on Merseyside.