Man City star Kyle Walker sent new referee warning after Rasmus Hojlund incident

-Photo courtesy of Dave Howarth - CameraSport through Getty Images

Kyle Walker's awkward tumble following a confrontation with Rasmus Hojlund isn't exactly a great representation of the sport.

Manchester United shocked the fans at the Etihad by netting goals in the 88th and 90th minutes to secure a victory against a struggling Manchester City team. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty, and shortly after, Amad scored a spectacular goal, turning the game around after Josko Gvardiol had given City an early lead with his header.

While the Manchester Derby was rather uneventful overall, there was one moment of confusion when 34-year-old Walker dramatically hit the ground following a confrontation with Hojlund, where the two players squared off. Replays later confirmed that there was no contact between them.

READ MORE: Amorim responds to the MEN acquiring details about United's lineup against City.

READ MORE: United will take a cautious approach with popular player Amad.

Walker's attempt to act theatrically backfired when referee Martin Atkinson issued yellow cards to both him and his opponent. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that the behavior displayed by the City defender should not have a place in football any longer.

He shared his thoughts with Ref Watch on Sky Sports, saying, "I'm uncertain whether Walker received the yellow card for aggressive conduct or for diving, but I can say that it doesn’t reflect well on the sport."

Walker ended up on the ground, holding his face, despite not having been hit at all.

"He shouldn't behave that way. I believe the referee handled the situation appropriately—he didn’t get caught up in the drama of the moment. It wasn't a big deal; just a player pushing another one and then reacting to it. We don’t need that kind of stuff on the field."

Manchester United legend Roy Keane, renowned for his fierce tackles and strong demeanor, shared his thoughts on Walker.

During the halftime break, he commented: "You have to expect some of this in a match—it's just part of the game and there will be some pushing and shoving. He was clearly obstructed, but Walker... it's obviously a foul, which means a free kick. Hojlund is understandably upset, and that's completely fine."

“However, he continues by questioning how Walker could possibly fall like that. It has to be humiliating for him. As a seasoned player, this situation doesn’t involve any real contact. Just take a look at it! I don’t even know the guy, and I feel embarrassed for him.”

The loss means that Pep Guardiola has achieved just one victory in his last 11 matches. The Manchester City manager has been finding it difficult to cope with these setbacks, and this defeat in the derby is likely to intensify those frustrations.

Meanwhile, United finds themselves in 13th place. Ruben Amorim's time at the club began fairly well, but it's definitely not meeting the expectations the Portuguese manager had in mind. Securing a victory at the Etihad would certainly boost the team's morale.