LIVERPOOL -- Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan had no complaints about Ahmed Elmohamady's dismissal in his side's 5-1 defeat at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Elmohamady was given a straight red card in the 29th minute when he deliberately handled Philippe Coutinho's goal-bound effort in the area when Liverpool were 1-0 up.
James Milner converted the spot kick and Jurgen Klopp's side made the most of their one-man advantage by running out easy winners.
Hull found themselves down to 10 men for the second consecutive week, with Jake Livermore having been given his marching orders for handling the ball in the home loss to Arsenal last weekend.
Speaking at his postmatch news conference, Phelan said referee Andre Marriner had been right to send Elmohamady off at Anfield.
"No qualms," Phelan responded when asked for his thoughts. "I think it's plain and the rule is there -- direct shot going in on goal. If your arm is out and it hits you, then it's a sending off and a penalty. I don't think we can excuse ourselves on that.
"I think there is possibly now a mentality that suggests there is the case of letting the ball go in the goal and staying on the field.
"I think that's maybe a mentality change that players have to make. It's an instinct, don't get me wrong, but rules have changed.
"It's a situation you don't want to find yourselves in against any opposition really, not just Arsenal previously and Liverpool today.
"It makes everything change. It makes your decision-making different, but there are harsh lessons in football and I think we've learned a few in the past week."
Meanwhile, on his birthday, Phelan reiterated that there was no update on whether he would be given the Hull job on a permanent basis.
"My future is that I'm 54 years old today and I have done alright!" he joked. "I have an offer to be the manager of this football club. All I'm waiting for is answers from the current owners.
"Everything seems to be down to their decision-making and I'm ready and willing. I'm up for the challenge, the players are up for a challenge and they have stressed that they want me at the helm.
"It's just waiting for that moment when somebody puts that piece of paper in front of me and I'll do what I have to do."
