He was not a happy man.
Victor Wanyama and Mohamed Salah scored brilliant goals, Harry Kane joined the Premier League centurions and Dele Alli was booked for simulation – again – but much of the post-match discussion on Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham inevitably focused on the referee and his linesman.
Referee Jon Moss awarded two controversial penalties to Spurs. The first saw Kane’s effort saved by Loris Karius but the second, which proved to be the last kick of a wild, extraordinarily entertaining game, saw the England striker find the back of the net and give Spurs a point.
While Kane was marginally offside for the first, in which he went down under the challenge of Karius, the second penalty decision was the one which infuriated Liverpool supporters. Virgil van Dijk was penalised after swinging his leg towards Erik Lamela.
However, even though the Dutchman pulled his leg away, Lamela still flung himself to the floor. Moss initially waved Spurs’ appeals away but the linesman flagged for a penalty. After consulting with the linesman, Moss awarded Spurs the penalty, much to the chagrin of the vast majority inside Anfield.
Following the game, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp claimed that the linesman wanted to be the centre of attention.
“Did you ever hear? I am not allowed to go in their room until half an hour after,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“It was clear offside [for the first penalty], unbelievable, I don’t know what they were discussing. Yes, Virgil van Dijk touches him, but we all know Lamela wants the touch and we all know they were so many hard fouls in the first half and yet we didn’t get any fouls.
“That was the level for the game today, but then a situation in the last minute like that? Wow. He wanted to be the middle of interest today and he is.”
Jurgen Klopp's reaction after Tottenham's second goal. https://t.co/F7vvmf9yFc
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) February 4, 2018
To suggest that the linesman wanted to have the cameras trained on him as he made a highly debatable decision right at the end of the game is certainly strange, but we’re prepared to give Klopp the benefit of the doubt seeing as, in this writer’s opinion, it wasn’t a penalty.
Klopp also admitted that the result was difficult to accept after watching his side create plenty of chances to put the result beyond doubt.
“We had fantastic moments, we could have defended better, but we created a lot of chances.,” he added. “Big chances to be honest. But can you control the game against Tottenham for 90 minutes? I don’t think so, their quality is too high. It’s hard to accept all the decisions today.”
In stark contrast, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino showered the officials with effusive praise, hailing them for having the character to give such a decision under intense pressure.
“I congratulated the referee,” Pochettino said. “To show that sort of character. It was difficult to know at the time if they were right, but in the dressing room I confirmed that they were right in every single decision.
“Sometimes we complain about them – I don’t – as I decided a long time ago to stop complaining. It’s important to recognise when they are right because it’s a very difficult job for them.
“If Dejan Lovren doesn’t touch the ball, he’s offside, but it’s clear that he touched the ball, so he’s onside. The second one is a clear foul by Virgil van Dijk – it’s an amazing decision as the referee and the assistant are so focused. I have to congratulate them as it’s a very difficult decision.”
