Jürgen Klopp wasn’t impressed with VAR’s decision not to award Liverpool a late penalty against Man City. The Reds boss took aim at two former referees post-match.
Jürgen Klopp took a sarcastic swipe at former referee Mike Dean as he discussed the decision not to award Liverpool a late penalty against Manchester City. The Reds boss also predicted that he would receive a call from PGMOL chief Howard Webb following the incident.
The decision could have seen the Reds take all three points, but they instead had to settle for one. Alexis Mac Allister had earlier equalized from the spot after John Stones’ first-half opener.
Liverpool though felt it should have had another opportunity to win the game in the final minute of stoppage time when Jérémy Doku caught Mac Allister in the chest with a high boot. Referee Michael Oliver waved away the shouts for a penalty, before VAR backed him up.
Commentating on the match for Sky Sports, former Premier League official Dean suggested the City winger may have gotten away with the decision. “He played the ball first and I am guessing they’re saying the follow-through is a normal coming together. He is very, very fortunate in my opinion there, Doku,” he said.
That didn’t stop him from catching a stray dig from Klopp post-match though. Having already remonstrated with Oliver on the pitch at full-time, the Liverpool boss doubled down on his opinion that it should have been a penalty in his interview with Sky Sports.
“They said he hit the ball but he can only do that because his foot is right there. But if the ball is not there, he kills him — the foot has nothing to do with it. It is as easy as that.
“Again, you will find people… don’t you employ Mike Dean, is he working for Sky? Congratulations, that’s a great appointment by the way. He will find something and all the others as well,” Klopp added sarcastically. “It’s a penalty for all football people on the planet. It’s a penalty. If you think it’s not one then maybe you’re not a football fan.”
In another interview with beIN Sports, Klopp then adjusted his aim toward the PGMOL’s chief. “It’s a clear penalty,” he said. “Somebody will explain the reason why it’s not or Howard Webb will call us tomorrow, [but] both things will not change the result!”
For all the conspiracy theories coming from rival fans recently, Klopp certainly won’t be happy with some of the decisions his side has received this season.
Given how tight the title race is right now, he knows only too well how they could impact his side. To be somewhat fair to Mike Dean, he did admit that Doku was very lucky not to have been penalized, not that it’ll come as much comfort to Klopp.
