When Liverpool’s Luis Diaz went down for the first of the Reds’ two penalties against Newcastle on Monday night, even Gary Neville in commentary said straightaway that the Colombian had made a meal of the tackle.
Watching it back in real time, and to coin Mikel Arteta’s phrase, it was embarrassing. A disgrace.
How on earth the spot-kick was allowed to stand when it was obvious there was minimal contact on the player is baffling to say the least.
Mo Salah having the resulting penalty saved saw justice served, but that wasn’t the case when Diogo Jota did his dying swan impression in the second half.
Both awards were as the result of cheating. Time to call it out for what it is. It can’t even be described as simulation because in Jota’s case there wasn’t even a finger laid on him.
On the night there wasn’t even any need for it as Liverpool were the better team for long periods, and the actions of both players only gives rise to the notion that some Reds players are always ‘looking for it.’
That could end up hindering Jurgen Klopp’s side as they get towards the business end of the season and one or two big decisions perhaps go against them because officials have instances like Monday’s in the backs of their minds.
Do better, Liverpool.
That’s a bit rich coming from a lifelong Barcelona supporter… at least Liverpool aren’t bribing referee’s and breaking FFP. Are you still bitter about that 4-0 loss in the champions league, Jason?
Think you’ll find that Liverpool more than deserved that 4-0 win, Dean.
Ian Wright’s comments about Jota penalty emanates from envy that his atrsenal are regressing in performances.Foot ball penalises CONTACT in 18 m area period.His arsenal got away on several occasions even.last.season.No praise can be expected from.enemies.I say this for the first time no duplication comments expected
Poor, lazy, unintelligent journalism. Perhaps time for a change in career?
Liverpool have been conning officials for years. It’s time it was clamped down on. Not lazy. Fact. Tottenham in the Kane years was the same. Quite happy with this career too thanks.
I suppose it’s not lazy to say it’s fact without evidence?!?!? Ok then, I’ll just brainlessly accept everything you say as gospel. My suspicion, but admittedly I don’t have the evidence, or the time to do the research, is that conning refs is likely to be a universal practice, both in the UK and abroad, but hey, let’s just call it a Liverpool FC-centric issue
Literally NOT a fact.
Just your opinion, an a lazily sourced one at that, Mr. “This is an opinion article” guy.
Facts are usually supported by evidence.
Do you have any to support yours?
Guess what, If Sterling act like Diaz & Jota sure will giving yellow card for diving.
Those two incidents were dives. The first was an afterthought when the player realised he would not score and the second an embarrassment which should have received a yellow card.
Now, I am not a supporter of either team, I watched he game by choice, as entertainment, and whilst I readily admit to Liverpool being the better side, by a country mile, those diving events spoiled the game by making it cease to be a contest and I didn’t bother watching the end.
its a skill. Every player does that, not only for penalties but freekicks.
Not a skill. Diving players in the prem. are an embarrassment. Not all players hit the deck when they are tackled ,or fall over when there is little or no contact.
everyone who say’s there was no contact needs to go to specsavers ,there was definate contact for both or why would var not ask the ref to check the monitor , why would jota go down when he was nearly round the keeper , sure it might seem harsh to oppsition but if there ‘s contact letter of the law is penalty .
Unfortunately the majority of players in the Premier League collapse after the lightest of touches, Liverpool are no different to any other team, other than their players do not scream when touched. Claiming goal kicks,when it is clearly a corner, a throw in when it is not yours and time wasting are all forms of cheating, the fact that Liverpool’s resulted in penalties is immaterial. While I’m on a whinge, how is a player penalised on the half way line for the lightest of touches, but a defender can wrap his arms around an attacker, without looking at the ball, at a corner kick,surely a foul is a foul,no matter where it happens on the pitch.
Yep you’re right. Which is why the refs need our support when they clamp down on dissent. Only when PL players realise that they won’t sway decisions by firing constant misinformation at referees, will there be any chance of something approaching fairness and consistency.
Very true, but referees do not help themselves by not being stronger when such actions take place. We were told that they were going to be stronger, which they were for a while, but then they reverted back to type. As I said previously a foul is a foul no matter where it is committed, but these days players get penalised for the merest touch outside of the penalty area, but can grapple with an attacker inside, yet a bump on the keeper is without question a foul. I accept that there will be pandemonium to begin with, but after a few games of getting the right decisions and giving a penalty the arguments will reduce in numbers.
Cool.
Now do an article on the number of times we’ve had players incorrectly sent off with red cards (that were subsequently rescinded by the league) this season.
Then follow that up with one about how many perfectly fine goals we’ve had ruled out due to incorrect VAR decisions and general cock-ups (See : Tottenham game for where to start. Also for the red cards).
And then finish up with one highlighting how many points we’d be better off this season if VAR and officials didn’t screw up their calls ( I’ll save you the trouble. It’s between 5 and 7 points higher than we currently are).
You’re a terrible “journalist” who’s written a terrible excuse for so-called “objective” article.
I hope you recover from that Barca thrashing soon.
Some day.
It’s an opinion article, I don’t have to be objective. 😀
Well, your opinion sucks.
As does the article.
But you already knew that, which is why you’re furiously defending it in the comments.
Congratulations on the clicks though, since that’s all you were after and you got them.
Jason you are a useless journalist. You should rather write fiction novels for children.
Hahaha!
Suck on this article Mr Pettigrove. Nice to know you’re prepared to write, as your title states an opinionated and baseless article on Liverpool and mention Spurs as being cheats for diving when all teams in Europe are also guilty of the this. Yet your own team Barcelona are under investigation for bribing referees! Ha ha
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/sep/28/barcelona-under-formal-investigation-for-suspected-bribery-in-referees-case