Klopp benefits from Liverpool ref drama as Everton tunnel act may anger Keane

Jurgen Klopp questions pressure on VAR officials after error denies Reds goal

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp may feel that justice was finally done at Anfield on Saturday after Liverpool found themselves on the fortunate side of referee decisions in a gritty 2-0 win over Everton. Mohamed Salah expertly dispatched the penalty with just over a quarter of an hour to go and doubled his tally in stoppage time, but the hosts rode their luck as Sean Dyche was left furious by a series of decisions made by Craig Pawson. Express Sport reflects on the decisions that helped Liverpool secure victory and the bragging rights for another few months.

Referee decisions finally favours Klopp

If the sending off of Ashley Young in the first half – which gave Liverpool a leg up – wasn’t enough to convince Klopp the gods of fortune were on his side, there were two more controversial incidents that also went his way. The German has come under fire for asking for Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham to be replayed after the major VAR error committed by Darren England in the game earlier this month.

This time, though, he would only have kind words for those behind the screen with two key decisions going his way. Young’s sending-off had been dealt with by Pawson alone as it concerned two bookings. And the official was once again asked to bring out the red card when, with the score still at 0-0, Konate fouled Beto having already been booked.

To everyone’s surprise and Dyche’s outrage, the cards stayed in the pocket – levelling the game at 10 vs 10 could have been a turning point. He also pointed to the spot for a dubious handball against Michael Keane late on to help Salah break the deadlock, a decision that would have surely completed the redemption of referees in Klopp’s eyes – as both decisions could have easily gone a different way on another day.

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Keane anger likely after Danjuma tunnel act

Roy Keane is never a fan of rivals acting friendly with each other on derby day, and that rule would certainly apply for Everton winger Arnaut Danjuma even if he is not Liverpudlian by blood. The Irishman has previously called out United players for engaging in pre-match niceties with Liverpool and Manchester City players, which was almost unheard of back when he was a player.

“I’m disgusted with the players. You’re going to war, they’re hugging and kissing,” Keane said on Sky Sports back in 2019. “Don’t even look at the opposition. You’re going into battle against them. The game hasn’t changed that much, the players have changed. You’re going to war against these players and they’re hugging each other. Chat to them after the game, or don’t even chat to them after the game.”

The Dutchman was spotted in the tunnel embracing his fellow international Cody Gakpo – who wasn’t involved in the matchday squad due to injury – at the half-time whistle. And Keane, as a typical football hardman, would not have appreciated their friendly hug given the bitter rivalry between Liverpool and Everton.

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New signings out of tune

Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were the starting midfield trio chosen by Klopp, having cost a combined £160million this summer.

So the German would have been most displeased to see the only midfielders that actually came away with some praise were on the opposite side, with the tireless work of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana more prominent despite being a man down.

Mac Allister may be playing out of position and Gravenberch has not had pre-season with his new team, but Klopp will be expecting more after an average display from the midfield trifecta, especially when playing against a leaky backline like Everton’s.

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