'100% Penalty' — Liverpool’s Klopp Criticizes Premier League Refereeing After Manchester City Draw

Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp was unhappy with the refereeing during the Reds' Premier League match against Manchester City | Imago

'100% Penalty' — Liverpool’s Klopp Criticizes Premier League Refereeing After Manchester City Draw

Ayoola Kelechi 21:30 - 10.03.2024

The Reds were denied a late penalty during their match against Manchester City, which has left Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp enraged

Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp expressed frustration with the Premier League refereeing after his side's 1-1 draw with Manchester City, particularly regarding a denied penalty claim in the dying moments of the match. 

Despite a thrilling contest that saw goals from John Stones and Alexis Mac Allister, Klopp believed his team deserved another spot kick.

Liverpool and Manchester City play out 1-1 draw

The match began with John Stones converting Kevin De Bruyne's well-worked corner, putting Manchester City in the lead during the first half. However, Liverpool managed to level the score at 1-1 with Alexis Mac Allister's successful penalty after Ederson brought down Darwin Nunez.

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Late in the game, Liverpool felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku challenged goalscorer Mac Allister, with the Belgian winger’s boot scraping the Argentine’s upper body, but referee Michael Oliver declined to award a penalty despite a VAR review. 

Klopp's Discontent with Refereeing

Despite the draw, Klopp was dissatisfied with the refereeing decision in the final moments of the game with the penalty incident and insisted it was a "100% penalty" and expressed disappointment in the officials' decision.

In his post-match comments, Klopp voiced his frustration, stating, "It was 100% penalty. They will find an explanation. Clear penalty for all football people on this planet. It was 100% foul in all areas of the pitch and probably a yellow card." Klopp acknowledged that the people with iPads around him agreed on the clear penalty but lamented the lack of a favorable decision.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal locked in rigorous title race

The draw leaves Liverpool trailing behind Arsenal in the Premier League standings, with the Gunners maintaining their top position after a 2-1 victory over Brentford. The result also keeps Manchester City close, just a point behind Liverpool in third place.

Despite the entertaining match and the 1-1 scoreline, Klopp's dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions, particularly the denied penalty claim, adds a controversial touch to the clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. As the Premier League season progresses, such contentious moments continue to be a focal point of discussions and debates.

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