The Premier League returned from its two-week holiday with a superb early kick-off – Manchester City v Liverpool was sure to be a great game, wasn’t it?

Well, 37 minutes in, it all went a little bit wrong.

Sadio Mane is the 1st Liverpool player to be sent off in 58 games in all comps, since Brad Smith v Swansea in May 2016 #PL #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/HwYxKH6GP4

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 9, 2017

With Liverpool 1-0 down, Sadio Mane contested a ball with City goalkeeper Ederson, but ended up giving the goalie quite a shock.

I've recently saw the images at Etihad, get well soon Ederson.

— Willy Caballero (@willy_caballero) September 9, 2017

Ederson had to go off, replaced with Claudio Bravo, while Mane was shown a straight red card.

I said to Sadio Mané Did you mean to kick Ederson in the head? He said No, James. I said Well you did Sadio. He said I know, James.

— Boring James Milner (@BoringMilner) September 9, 2017

However, that wasn’t the end of the matter – some thought the referee’s decision was spot on, a red card for dangerous play.

You could say "what else is Mane meant to do" but Ederson's head already there before he even begins to raise foot so high. It's reckless.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) September 9, 2017

What Mane did was not malicious. Clearly not. But if you go in that high and connect with the man, it has to be a red

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) September 9, 2017

For some, fantasy football might have played a part.

The reaction to the Mane red card shows how many people have him in their fantasy team

— Tom McGowan (@tompmcgowan) September 9, 2017

SCOUT: Mane owned by 30.8% and brought in by 207,447 ahead of GW4 now set to miss 3 matches (2 GW’s) following his dismissal #MCILIV #FPL pic.twitter.com/V3VWIW0qxX

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 9, 2017

However, not everybody agreed with the decision.

Concern over Ederson, who has stayed down, but Mane red card looked pretty harsh to me. It was hardly Schumacher on Battiston. #MCFC 1-0

— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) September 9, 2017

That's a joke decision. Mane only ever looking at the ball.

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) September 9, 2017

If that's a red card for Mane the game is gone. Referees have to understand a player is playing the ball in that situation & no malice.

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) September 9, 2017

However, the issue at hand was whether Mane had endangered the safety of his opponent, which many believed he had.

Not even the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, could agree, it seemed.

Replays on Mane/Ederson clash: ouch. Gary Neville is sticking to his guns that it wasn't a red...? Hmm 🤔 #MCILIV

— FourFourTwo ⚽️ (@FourFourTwo) September 9, 2017

Red card, or no red card?