By Conor Hogan

Lucas Paquetá faces suspension once again following his sending off in West Ham’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Brazilian saw red after receiving two bookings in quick succession and will miss the Hammers’ clash with Manchester United next Thursday. On 82 minutes, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai was fouled by Irons substitute Niclas Füllkrug, leading to Paquetá’s first booking.

It’s unclear what the 28-year-old was actually punished for — he didn’t commit the foul — but it was supposedly for his outburst towards referee Darren England.

Despite Jarrod Bowen and Matheus Fernandes’ admittedly limp attempts to calm him down, Paquetá continued to berate the official, who had made several questionable decisions throughout the game. Eventually, Paquetá talked himself into a second yellow and was dismissed, as the Hammers slumped to defeat.

Usually when a West Ham player is sent off, especially for something so seemingly needless, I find myself irritated with them — but that wasn’t the case with Paquetá today. I almost found myself sympathising with the Hammers’ No. 10.

On the day the club paid tribute to the legendary Billy Bonds — a man who embodied resilience and fortitude in claret and blue — today’s Hammers looked ambivalent and apathetic against a poor Liverpool side. In the face of weak refereeing, Paquetá was — and often is — the only Irons player willing to question the official, albeit in the wrong way.

Hammers fans may criticise Paquetá for his actions — and the Sky Sports commentary team certainly relished the chance — but isn’t this what the Irons faithful have been crying out for? Some fight? Someone to defend their side’s cause?

Paquetá’s emotions have often affected his performances in a West Ham shirt, and his suspension for the trip to Old Trafford may hurt the Irons. But the same behaviour was also seen from the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Marko Arnautović and Julian Dicks — players adored during their time in East London.

I’m not condoning what Paquetá did, and I don’t know what he said to the referee, but in an uninspired West Ham side he provided creativity, ambition and a hunger that very few Hammers displayed today.

Ultimately, West Ham didn’t deserve anything from the game, and the sending-off didn’t ruin a golden chance of nicking a point — it was the previous 84 minutes that did.