Marcus Rashford should have been shown a red card for a second bookable offence during Manchester United’s goalless draw against Aston Villa.

This is the view of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, who was providing commentary on the match for Sky Sports.

Rashford received a yellow card in the 59th minute for clipping Matty Cash’s heels to halt a Villa counter-attack. Just two minutes later, the United forward committed another foul, this time on Leon Bailey.

The Villa Park crowd reacted angrily, with loud boos echoing around the stadium, but referee Robert Jones opted not to issue a second yellow card, thus sparing Rashford from a sending-off.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was well aware of how close Rashford came to being dismissed, swiftly substituting him for Antony.

Carragher later claimed that Manchester United were fortunate to finish the match with a full team, stating: "If Rashford hadn't already been booked, that would have been a yellow. It should have been a red card, and Manchester United should have been reduced to ten men."

After the match, Ten Hag was asked whether he substituted Rashford out of concern that he could be sent off.

"Yes, that was one of the reasons for taking him off," Ten Hag confirmed. "If he committed another foul, he would probably have been sent off. We couldn't take that risk."