Klopp defends Salah amid diving row after Liverpool’s big win against Arsenal
- Jurgen Klopp has dismissed claims that Mohamed Salah and other Liverpool players dive to get soft penalties during games
- Salah was awarded penalties during Liverpool’s 4-0 and 5-1 wins over Newcastle United and Arsenal during the festive period.
- The German tactician insists players don't need to spill blood on the pitch before referee’s call for penalty
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is refusing to be persuaded that his players are divers after two controversial incidents concerning Mohamed Salah in the Reds last two Premier League fixtures.
According to a UK Metro report, the German tactician while reacting on the claim, questioned if it was right for players to spill blood on the pitch before referee’s call for penalty.
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At the last count, Salah was awarded a spot-kick during Liverpool’s 4-0 and 5-1 win over Newcastle United and Arsenal, with Dejan Lovren also unprofessionally fouled inside the vital area against Arsenal.
A result that saw the Reds handed three spot-kicks in their last two Premier league matches at Anfield.
Arsenal defence ace Sokratis Papastathopolous was left furious after the ref’s decision against him for his tackle on Salah but Klopp was quick to offer support for his star striker.
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“Do we need blood for a proper penalty? I think no,” Klopp said.
“In that moment, if you don’t touch Mo and he makes the next step and shoots – and we know he’s pretty good at that – these are the situations.
“I haven’t seen it back (with Sokratis) and I have no clue about what happened around it but the ref really was close to it.
“We don’t have divers and that was not a dive. The other one [involving Lovren] is not a dive. The ref decides it. In the three and a half years, we have had more penalties not given when they were penalties,” Klopp summed up.
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Liverpool are currently at the summit of the Premier Log seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City after thrashing Arsenal 5-1.
City play host to the Reds in an all-important Premier League cracker at the Etihad on Thursday, January 3, 2019.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously had reported that Liverpool defeated Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday, December 29, at Anfield to consolidate their Premier League ambition.
It was the visitors that got the early shout out of nowhere as Ainsley Maitland-Niles was on hand to tap-in an Alex Iwobi's cross in the 11th minute to make it 1-0.
The lead did not last long as three minutes later a lose ball between Arsenal defenders fell kindly to Roberto Frimino who slotted home the equalizer.
The Brazilian put the Reds in the lead for the first time in the match in the 16th minute as he dribbled past three Gunners defenders to score a beautiful solo effort to make it 2-1.
Sadio Mane made it 3-1 in the 32nd minute as he was on hand to blast home a Mohamed Salah's fine assist. Then it was the turn of Salah to register his name on the score sheet as he was awarded what looked like a soft penalty and as he made it 4-1 right on the stroke of half time.
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Source: Legit.ng
