Erling Haaland responds to alleged Gabriel 'headbutt' as ex-referee weighs in

Referee Anthony Taylor booked both Gabriel and Haaland for the incident -Credit:Michael Regan/Getty Images

When quizzed about the confrontation, Haaland suggested the defender could have been sent off had he been rather more theatrical. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, via The Mirror: "I think it's always like this. A lot of fighting and these kind of things.

"That's others to decide if I won that battle. Of course, I scored the goal. I won that battle in the decisive moment, the cross was perfect. It was a great goal. In the end, we win."

He added: "If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would maybe be red card. I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don't know why he comes up to my face."

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville was among those stunned that Gabriel was not sent off.

Commenting during the broadcast, he said: "Now why did you do that, Gabriel? You can put your heads against each other, I got done in a game a long time ago, the moment you throw it forward you get a red. I can't believe that's not a red to be honest."

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean added: "They have gone head to head, it's not excessive force by Gabriel, the way the game has gone with them two, I'd say a yellow card is just right, but I wouldn't have been surprised if Gabriel had been sent off.

"Just looking at it again, Gabriel is very lucky not to be sent off. I think he's very lucky, very lucky indeed."