Man City captain Kyle Walker says referee Michael Oliver ‘could have crumbled’ when faced with late Liverpool penalty claim
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has praised Michael Oliver for not “crumbling” under the Anfield pressure – but refused to deny Liverpool should have been awarded a dramatic late penalty in their Premier League thriller on Sunday.
There was a controversial ending to the 1-1 draw when, in the eighth minute of injury time, Alexis Mac Allister appeared to be caught by a high boot from City substitute Jeremy Doku.
Oliver waved away Liverpool’s appeals with his decision backed up by VAR Stuart Attwell following a brief review of the incident.
And Walker has saluted the officials, and Oliver in particular, for not being influenced by the Anfield crowd, although he fell short of stating it was the correct decision.
“My view is the referee and VAR have made a decision,” he said. “I feel the ref reffed it really, really well. I feel once you have the Anfield crowd behind them (Liverpool), he could have crumbled. That shows his experience and that shows his character, and that’s why he’s regarded as one of the best referees in the country and the world at the minute.
“Listen, it’s probably not up to me to say if I do think it’s a pen. If I say it’s not a pen, then it’s headlines and if I say it is a pen, then it’s headlines. The VAR has checked it, the ref has done it, and that’s all I’m going to say on it.”
Oliver had already awarded Liverpool a penalty early in the second half when Darwin Nunez was cleaned out by City goalkeeper Ederson. Mac Allister converted to equalise a first-half strike from John Stones to ensure a draw, which leaves Liverpool in second place behind new leaders Arsenal on goal difference with City a further point adrift.
“You go there and you want to win,” added Walker, speaking to Sky Sports. “It says a lot about the dressing room that we are disappointed with a draw at Anfield. Probably with the goal where we gave it them, that is a little bit disappointing.
“But for the spectacle of the Premier League, as a game of football over 100 minutes it was fantastic. It was a great advert, two massive teams going at it toe-to-toe. We could have gone on and nicked it when Jeremy hit the post and Phil (Foden) had the one-on-one, but they’ve also had really good chances as well in the second half.”
