Jamie Carragher reckons referee Tony Harrington might have 'managed the situation' better before Idrissa Gueye's extraordinary red card, after the Everton midfielder was dismissed for striking his own team-mate during the clash with Manchester United.

Gueye received his marching orders just 13 minutes into the match at Old Trafford following an altercation with Michael Keane. The Senegal international seemed frustrated with centre-half Keane after a breakdown in communication which resulted in the midfielder surrendering possession inside his own half, reports the Mirror.

Following a heated exchange, the duo went head-to-head inside the penalty area before Gueye lifted his right hand and appeared to slap Keane across the side of his face. The moment Gueye made contact with Keane's face, Harrington showed no hesitation in brandishing a straight red card.

Former Everton boss Roberto Martinez also weighed in on the incident, stating: "No I was very surprised because you need to be intense. You need to be intense. The reaction here, you've got a lot of bodies in the box.

Offering his assessment of the incident, Carragher told Sky Sports: "I just think sometimes can the referee manage a situation a little bit? The actual ruling, as you've said, a little bit like when we talk about tackles, excessive force, we're talking about a slap here.

"Could you just get the two of them together and say 'eh, behave yourselves'. Sort of manage the situation rather than say 'that's the rule book, I am just going off exactly that. When you actually look at the rules it actually gives the referee a bit of an out."

"Obviously it's a bit of a misunderstanding [Gueye trying to play the ball to Keane and they blame each other]. Clearly it's a misunderstanding, Gueye is trying to play the ball but it's that reaction here, that slap, open hand.

"We've been talking about it many times. I think the referee has no other choice. When you see it there, the law tells you any aggression above the neck is a red card."