OPINION: Liverpool fans must blame Klopp, not the refs
Liverpool fans have been all over John Moss and his assistants for the two penalties they conceded against Tottenham Hotspur, but I think the accusing finger is pointed at the wrong people.
Today, we discuss Victor Gomes' performance in the match between Cape Town City and Mamelodi Sundowns, the KZN derby between AmaZulu and Golden Arrows, as well as the refereeing decisions in the match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Listen to the podcast and read more in the blog below.
The two penalties were correctly awarded, according to the laws of the game.
In the first one, Harry Kane was in an offside position, but the deliberate act by Dejan Lovren to play the ball and make contact with it makes him onside. Loris Karius also did catch his foot and that was a fair call. I admit Kane probably could have jumped over the keeper, but that is not his problem.
There was a challenge and he didn't evade it.
The second penalty was a kick by Virgil Van Dijk who wanted to clear the ball, unaware of his surroundings and Erik Lamela pounced. The intention to play the player is debatable here, but his foot did catch Lamela and it gave the officials, who have no luxury of replays, a reason to make a decision.
Even if the second penalty was dubious, what baffles me is that when Spurs scored inside the opening 11 seconds against Manchester United, the Scousers were the first to tease us and we didn't complain about the referee. Everybody knows that the goal shouldn't have stood because Kane was already in United's half when kick-off happened.
I'm not saying this because the mistake bugs me, but I'm pleading with Liverpool fans to take a leaf out of our book and start looking at the things their team is not doing right.
Spurs deserved to win the match against Liverpool because they attacked while Liverpool parked the bus and they were bound to make mistakes. Maybe they should criticise their coach and players for their tactics that backfired because truth be told, Liverpool have players to match Spurs toe-to-toe, but they decided to play defensively.
The only player who should be slammed for simulation is Dele Alli, as he's already been booked three times this season for diving in the penalty box.