Well, it's never a dull occasion is it when Liverpool play one of the big teams? The match against Spurs at Anfield on Sunday was certainly full of goals as most expected but the result was somewhat tinged by some very questionable referring/lino decisions.
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| Image via express.co.uk |
I'm not one to dwell on decisions usually but the linesman had a massive effect on the game on Sunday and after watching various replays, listening to various viewpoints and reading what you guys had to say on social media, I think most will agree that we were robbed of the win.
The Reds opened up the scoring after just three minutes thanks to a pouncing Mo Salah. For a while in the first half, it looked as though Klopp's side were in control but things quickly began to turn in Spurs' favour as the pressure from the visitors began to mount.
Liverpool, on the whole, dealt well with this pressure. Karius, in particular, should get a mention, I'm not his biggest fan but he pulled off some strong saves on Sunday. However, his decision to punch clear at 80 minutes would prove fatal.
Wanyama who had only just entered play found Karius' attempted clearance and scored an absolute belter, smashing his effort into the top left-hand corner. It was a wonderful goal but I don't think we can be too harsh on Karius, on another day that ball would not have found its way to the sweet foot of Wanyama.
Then came the drama.
Spurs were awarded a penalty after the referee and linesman had a long old chat about the offside rule. Now I'm no expert, nowhere near it but if you've called Kane offside, it's irrelevant whether Lovren then goes on to touch the ball or not, your call has been made. As a linesman you don't hang around thinking oh wait a minute I won't call here, I'll let the ball hang in the air for a bit in case one of the opposition players gets a touch.
Kane is behind Lovren, Lovren can't see him, of course he's going to interfere. It was just a ridiculous decision. On top of that, I'm not even sure it was a penalty. Thankfully none of this really mattered because Kane's spot kick was naff and Karius saved well predicting the shot would stay central.
One minute into extra time and I practically lost my voice screaming in elation at the magnificent Mo Salah. In possession in the box he actually part way through his attack believes there's been a hand ball, he physically stops to appeal but the ref is having none of it, so Salah thinks sod it, takes on the Spurs' defence and dinks home what absolutely should have been the Liverpool winner.
However, a few minutes later Spurs unbelievably are awarded a second penalty. Watching live and feeling rather angry I didn't believe the challenge warranted a peno, I felt as though without the pressure if that happened earlier in the game it would not have been awarded. Also, the ref didn't award it, it was that bloody linesman who called it back!
Whatever your thoughts on the challenge, Spurs went on to score thanks to that annoyingly good Harry Kane bloke. Post-match though, it appears to many that Lamela was, in fact, offside anyway?
We could argue the decisions forever, the fact is we drew but I'm sorry, that lino had way too much influence on that game, way too much.