Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits it was “a dirty three points” that his side came away with today, but also that “the dirty ones are very often the most important.”
Klopp’s men came from behind to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace today in a match that could likely be most remembered for a controversial non-call on Liverpool winger Sadio Mane. Mane was booked for simulation midway through the first half, but even Klopp admits his forward was lucky to escape a second yellow on a later incident, which would have resulted in a sending off, and thus reduced the Reds to just ten men.
Dive or penalty? ? https://t.co/LGTBsQFV6T
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 31, 2018
“I’m really happy that we come back,” Klopp said in a post match interview with Sky Sports.
“I think at the end it was absolutely deserved. Yes (Liverpool goalkeeper) Loris (Karius) had to make two good saves, but I think Crystal Palace were in a lot (of) moments pretty lucky that we didn’t score. We scored two wonderful goals after a difficult start. I’m really happy.
“I think in the moment when the ball passed the defender and you see it’s Mo then it already feels good. So hopefully it will stay forever like this. That was a very cool finish.
“I was really happy with the reaction after half-time. Yes, at the end, it’s maybe a dirty three points, but for us very important. The dirty ones are very often the most important.”
Sadio Mane was a hot discussion topic today on social media amongst football fans.
Back to diving school for Sadio Mane: he clutched the wrong leg.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) March 31, 2018
Sadio Mane with the worst piece of acting since David Beckham in King Arthur. #CRYLIV
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 31, 2018
In the second half, Mane deliberately handled the ball after believing he had been fouled. It was an extremely confusing situation, and we would show you the video, right here and let you judge for yourself, but the Premier League restricts this footage from being available at the moment.
Klopp gave his take on both controversial Mane incidents, and we invite you to post your take in the comments section below.
“In the game for me, it was a clear penalty. Then I saw it back one time on video and for me it’s a clear penalty,” Klopp said.
“Yes, he goes down late, but there’s still contact there. Obviously for the ref it was no penalty and a dive, but the second one, yes, I think it’s a foul on Sadio and then Sadio puts a hand on the ball. Yes, I thought it was a second yellow. But the ref made an interesting decision.”
“It was a free-kick for us usually then handball for Sadio, free-kick for the other team and no yellow card. It was confusing a little bit. We were lucky in that moment for sure, but not over the full 90 minutes.”
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