Paqueta receives a red card, West Ham suffer a 0-2 defeat against Liverpool.

In the 83rd minute at the London Stadium, Lucas Paqueta received a yellow card for protesting, then continued to run towards referee Darren England to complain and received a second yellow card. West Ham finished the match 0-2 down to Liverpool with 10 men, and Paqueta will miss Friday's away game against Manchester United.

A moment of recklessness broke West Ham's back.

The pivotal moment came from a controversial incident: Paqueta reacted to Niclas Fullkrug's foul on Dominik Szoboszlai. The first yellow card was shown in the 83rd minute, but the Brazilian midfielder didn't stop there. He gestured, approached the referee, disrupted the restart of play, and caused Darren England to lose patience.

Mateus Fernandes tried to intervene, and captain Jarrod Bowen also stepped in. Alisson – his compatriot who was guarding Liverpool's goal – ran over with Curtis Jones to pull Paqueta away. All were in vain. The 27-year-old midfielder continued to insist on his innocence, received a second yellow card, and was sent off. As he left the pitch, he even sarcastically applauded the referee before heading into the tunnel, shaking his head in disappointment and clapping towards the west stand.

The course of events, the score, and the immediate consequences.

The match ended in a 0-2 defeat, with goals scored by Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. The red card for his reaction put West Ham at a disadvantage, and Paqueta immediately paid the price with a suspension for the next match against Manchester United – a crucial link in the relegation battle.

Notably, just before the match, West Ham confirmed the death of legend Billy Bonds – an icon of leadership. On a day when the team needed composure, Paqueta lost it.

The psychological weight after two years of investigation.

In July, Paqueta was acquitted in a two-year FA investigation into suspected match-fixing, with suspicious betting patterns appearing in matches involving Leicester City (November 12, 2022), Aston Villa (March 12, 2023), Leeds United (May 21, 2023), and Bournemouth (August 12, 2023). His potential transfer to Manchester City fell through when the investigation began in August 2023; if found guilty, he faced a lifetime ban. He consistently maintained his innocence and was ultimately exonerated.

However, the psychological impact was clear. In May, Paqueta broke down in tears after being cautioned by referee Michael Oliver for fouling Mikey Moore in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham. Bowen and manager Graham Potter – who was sacked in September – had to comfort him. Six months later, against Liverpool, Paqueta's impulsiveness was a slap in the face to the faith the club had placed in him.

Paqueta's message after the match

"Perhaps this silly behavior just reflects everything I've been through and am still going through! I'm sorry if I'm not perfect."

A few minutes earlier, he wrote on X:“I understand that I now look like the villain. It’s hard to live with the things that have affected my life and my mental state! I will try to prevent them from causing me further distress. This doesn’t justify the red card, and that’s why I apologize to the fans and my teammates!”

A long-standing disciplinary problem.

This season, Paqueta (whose contract runs until 2027) has received yellow cards in matches against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Leeds United, Newcastle United, and Burnley. He missed last weekend's 2-2 draw against Bournemouth due to suspension. Liverpool seems to be the perfect opponent to bring out his worst sides: last April, when West Ham lost 1-2, Paqueta played impressively but then ruined everything with a dramatic fall after a collision with Andrew Robertson – the incident that led to Virgil van Dijk's 89th-minute winning goal.

Response from the technical area

Coach Nuno Espírito Santo chose to defend his player after the match: “It’s very difficult to play against Liverpool with only 10 men. I won’t comment at this time. I want to speak to Lucas privately first, and then at the next press conference we can explain more clearly. It wouldn’t be fair to comment without speaking to him first.”

Nuno and his teammates may forgive him, but for a large section of the fans, the red card was the last straw at a time when the team needed reliable players to stay afloat.

Paqueta's near future

A departure in January is possible, given that Aston Villa were interested in him during the summer transfer window. After scoring in the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on August 31st, Paqueta celebrated by pretending to reject a call and then kissing the club's logo; but just 12 days later, he posted on Instagram hinting at the possibility of leaving West Ham.

The numbers are noteworthy.

• 83rd minute: First yellow card for reaction; continued arguing and received a second yellow card, leading to a red card.
• West Ham lost 0-2 to Liverpool; Paqueta is suspended for the match against Manchester United.
• The FA acquitted Paqueta in July after a two-year investigation.
• Received yellow cards in the following matches: Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Burnley; missed the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth due to suspension.
• History against Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk's dramatic fall that led to his 89th-minute goal in last season's 1-2 defeat.