Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has admitted that he is finding it difficult to defend Everton's Jordan Pickford following his horror tackle on Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby.
The Reds centre-back is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines following Pickford's dangerous challenge and is set to undergo surgery on his ACL, which could rule him out for the season.
Adrian occupied the sticks at the other end of the pitch in that 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, and the Spaniard has now claimed that he cannot defend the under-fire Pickford, who faced no retrospective action for the tackle.
"It was a very bad challenge in a very bad position of Virgil's body, it was late," Adrian told Sky Sports News. "No player is allowed to do this kind of challenge.
"I'm a goalkeeper and I always defend goalkeepers, but going for a ball like this in that case... I don't know. It's not fair in that situation because he hasn't got much chance to block the ball in that position, just to hurt the other player.
"As a footballer, your body is at risk every time you play but you have a few challenges that you are allowed to do. But I don't accept this kind of challenge. The federation, the Premier League cannot accept these kinds of things."
Liverpool began life without Van Dijk with a 1-0 win at Ajax in the Champions League, and Jurgen Klopp's side will next take on Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday night.
Ben Knapton
