At the time of Lucas Paqueta’s red card, Liverpool held a narrow lead over West Ham and the different reactions from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson were quickly spotted by supporters.

Paqueta quickly turned one yellow card into a double booking to leave West Ham with 10 men for the final exchanges, where a point was still a possibility.

His inability to walk away from referee Darren England after his initial booking caused quite the scene, with some seeking to pull Paqueta away and others doing the opposite.

England could be seen gesturing to Bowen to help contain the situation as captain, but it was Mateus Fernandes and even Alisson, who ran all the way from his box, seeking to calm him down.

“It’s ridiculous behaviour” ?

Lucas Paquetá is SENT OFF for talking himself into a second booking. pic.twitter.com/Hgjy7kBck3

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 30, 2025

Alisson and Paqueta are international teammates and Liverpool’s No. 1 was trying to talk sense into the West Ham man, and thought he was successful as he turned and walked away.

Instead, Paqueta went for another round as Van Dijk and Bowen talked to the referee, and Liverpool’s captain, unlike Alisson, was not going to stand in his way of making the situation worse.

• READ: Lucas Paqueta takes aim at FA after bizarre red card behaviour

With both arms in the air, Van Dijk moved back and mere seconds later a red card was brandished and Liverpool were then left to compete against 10 men.

The different responses from Van Dijk and Alisson did not go unnoticed by Liverpool or West Ham supporters, though the former would appreciate the team being a little more savvy.

Alisson Becker did more there than our captain to try and stop Lucas Paqueta getting sent off.

— Uber West Ham (@UberWestHam) November 30, 2025

Not sure I’ve ever seen an opposition player do his best to stop a player getting himself sent off as Alisson does here with Paqueta (even if they are International compatriots)! #WHULFC pic.twitter.com/FLMTPJtftt

— Grace O’Sullivan (@gosulli) November 30, 2025

That is one of the most stupid things I’ve ever seen from Paqueta, even the Liverpool players were trying to stop him getting himself sent off

— Danny Corcoran (@calcio_danny) November 30, 2025

I’m crying even Alisson was trying to save him from the red card there, what was Paqueta doing?

— barry (@BackseatsmanLFC) November 30, 2025

VVD seen him charging back over at the ref and took a little side step to let him keep going

— Dan (@ElBongWater91) November 30, 2025

Van Dijk to Paqueta: lifts hands, go ahead and do your thing mate: Ref: another yellow + red. Off you go.??

— Sports/Musik (@Sports_Musik) November 30, 2025

Lads?

If one of your opponents is doing his level best to get himself sent off, LET HIM GET ON WITH IT.

I don’t want us to be like Chelsea and Arsenal yesterday, that was contemptible.

Just a little savvy. Please?

— Steven Kelly (@SteKelly198586) December 1, 2025

Why is Alisson trying to calm Paqueta down ??

Let him argue himself into getting sent off

If someone wants to calm him down, Bowen his captain is right there ?

— Adam Patel (@a_dam05) November 30, 2025

Why the fuck is Alisson holding back Pacqueta when he’s about to head loss himself into a red card? We’re too nice man

— . (@FourFourOnGlue) November 30, 2025

Liverpool went on to add a second goal and make sure of the win, with West Ham‘s chance of making it a nervy finish all but vanishing thanks to the red card.

It is clear what Alisson‘s intentions were, to help a fellow compatriot, but Liverpool do need to be more savvy in situations such as these.

They didn’t need to plead and make dramatic appeals to the referee, rather let the player make his own bed and not intervene, just as Van Dijk did in the end.