- Liverpool fought back to take a point after Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty
- Jurgen Klopp believed his side should have had a penalty for Jeremy Doku’s foul
- The great Klopp and Guardiola rivalry: who comes out on top in their last-ever league game? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Jurgen Klopp questioned a Sky Sports reporter whether Liverpool should have got a penalty following a late challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.
Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku avoided conceding a late penalty after it was deemed that a high tackle on Mac Allister was ‘played in a reasonable position’ by VAR.
The challenge in the eighth minute of added time did not lead to a penalty with the two sides holding each other to a 1-1 draw – handing the title advantage to Arsenal who are ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, with Man City a point back.
Klopp admitted he had gone to speak to referee Michael Oliver at the end of the match about the penalty claim: ‘I think it’s worth talking about.’
‘Would you have given a penalty in that situation?’ Klopp asked the reporter.
‘You do like putting me on the spot! But I will answer it – I’m not surprised VAR didn’t overturn it’ the reporter responded.
‘Isn’t it there for just making the right decision and not thinking about how high the bar is to overturn the right decision?’ Klopp asked.
He continued: ‘You think you agree that this situation in all positions of the pitch is 100% a foul. It’s 100% a foul and 100% a yellow card. Because he hit the ball but he can only hit the ball because his foot is right there.
‘If the ball is not there, he kills him’ the boss continued.
‘You will find people, in fact did you employ Mike Dean? Is he working for Sky [Sports]? Congratulations that’s a great appointment by the way. He will find something.
‘It’s a penalty for all football people on the planet, it’s a penalty. If you think it’s not one, maybe you’re not a football person.’
Speaking on the title race, Klopp said: ‘Today we showed we are ready to fight, as long as the race goes.’
Liverpool face Sparta Prague at home on Thursday, while Manchester City host Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
