Jurgen Klopp has lamented the decision not to award Liverpool a stoppage time penalty, insisting that Jeremy Doku’s challenge on Alexis Mac Allister was “100% a foul”.
Klopp’s Liverpool faced off against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City for a final time ever in the Premier League on Sunday, bringing an end to a near decade-long rivalry between the two coaches and clubs.
The final chapter of the rivalry proved to be everything fans hoped it would be: full of quality, flash points and controversy.
Goals from Man City’s John Stones and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister – who converted a penalty kick at the start of the second half – would ensure that the points were shared on Sunday, however Reds fans were left feeling aggrieved at not having the opportunity to win the game from the spot in the dying embers of the game.
In the 98th minute, a rash high boot from Doku seemingly caught Mac Allister in the chest in the penalty area, leading many to believe that VAR intervention would result in a penalty being awarded. However, after a quick check, Michael Oliver’s decision to not award a spot kick was not overturned and the game would ultimately end 1-1.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Klopp was asked about the incident, insisted that he believed that it was “100% a foul”
“I think it’s worth talking about. Would you have given a penalty in the situation?” asked Klopp.
“Isn’t it [VAR] there for making the right decision? This situation in all positions of the pitch is 100% a foul. And it is a yellow card. He hit the ball but, but if the ball is not there he kills him.
“He [Mike Dean] will find something and all the others as well. It’s a penalty for all people on the planet.”
The draw means that Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal head into the final ten games of the 2023/24 Premier League season with just one point separating them at the top of the table.
