Sport nationOPINIONArsenal can make Premier League demand if Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool get Tottenham replay
Jurgen Klopp has astonishingly claimed Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur should be replayed because of the controversy surrounding Luis Diaz’s non goal
Ivan Toney celebrates after scoring a controversial goal against Arsenal in February
Ivan Toney celebrates after scoring a controversial goal against Arsenal in February (Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Liverpool need to get a grip. Yes, that’s right, as much as last weekend’s shocking VAR controversy altered most people’s opinion on the technology, the fallout from the drama has also confirmed one thing: Jurgen Klopp is the Premier League’s biggest crybaby.
Cult-like Liverpool fans have cried conspiracy all week, believing the media have whipped up a storm on the back of their damning statement on Sunday. A brutal tear down of the PGMOL condemned “sporting integrity” and dog-whistled the possibility of a replay.
To Reds supporters, accusing their club of wanting the result reversed was media subterfuge, with words being put in their mouths. Well, their vitriol since the weekend was ultimately in vain as Klopp, preparing for a Europa League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise, said the quiet bit out loud.
“The audio [from the VAR room] didn’t change it [my mind] at all because I was not really interested in why things happen,” Klopp blurted out to reporters. “I saw the outcome, I saw a goal, and I saw it didn’t count. It’s really important that we deal with it in a proper way.
“The only outcome should be a replay. The argument against that will be ‘if we open that gate, everyone will ask for it’. I think the situation is unprecedented. I’m 56 years old and I’m absolutely used to wrong decisions. But something like that as far as I can remember has never happened. That’s why it should be a replay.”
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Bukayo Saka’s injury, David Raya display and Lens defeat
READ MORE: Premier League release VAR audio for Tottenham vs Liverpool Luis Diaz offside goal
And that is exactly the point. Should the Premier League bow down to Klopp’s shocking demands, they will open up a can of worms beyond belief. Everyone accepts that the decision to rule out Luis Diaz’s goal against Tottenham Hotspur was wrong but to insinuate this has only happened to Liverpool is astonishing.
What about Arsenal? Should Mikel Arteta demand the 2022/23 season be voided due to Ivan Toney’s controversial goal in February? That incident, which saw the Brentford striker equalise at the Emirates Stadium, also received a PGMOL apology as not one – but two – players were offside in the build-up to the goal. The answer is, unequivocally, no.
This is not a case of whataboutery in Arsenal’s favour; every other club in the Premier League could cite unjust decisions that have taken place since VAR’s introduction. Liverpool bemoaned sporting integrity in their cut-throat statement but would arguably be doing more to undermine the spirit of the game than anyone if this game were replayed.
Would they play the game with nine men? A case could be made for Liverpool failing to win due to two players being sent off – taking their tally this season to three. Perhaps Klopp should look in the mirror before sermonising to the rest of us about sportsmanship.
OPINIONArsenal can make Premier League demand if Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool get Tottenham replay
Jurgen Klopp has astonishingly claimed Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur should be replayed because of the controversy surrounding Luis Diaz’s non goal
Ivan Toney celebrates after scoring a controversial goal against Arsenal in February
Ivan Toney celebrates after scoring a controversial goal against Arsenal in February (Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Liverpool need to get a grip. Yes, that’s right, as much as last weekend’s shocking VAR controversy altered most people’s opinion on the technology, the fallout from the drama has also confirmed one thing: Jurgen Klopp is the Premier League’s biggest crybaby.
Cult-like Liverpool fans have cried conspiracy all week, believing the media have whipped up a storm on the back of their damning statement on Sunday. A brutal tear down of the PGMOL condemned “sporting integrity” and dog-whistled the possibility of a replay.
To Reds supporters, accusing their club of wanting the result reversed was media subterfuge, with words being put in their mouths. Well, their vitriol since the weekend was ultimately in vain as Klopp, preparing for a Europa League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise, said the quiet bit out loud.
“The audio [from the VAR room] didn’t change it [my mind] at all because I was not really interested in why things happen,” Klopp blurted out to reporters. “I saw the outcome, I saw a goal, and I saw it didn’t count. It’s really important that we deal with it in a proper way.
“The only outcome should be a replay. The argument against that will be ‘if we open that gate, everyone will ask for it’. I think the situation is unprecedented. I’m 56 years old and I’m absolutely used to wrong decisions. But something like that as far as I can remember has never happened. That’s why it should be a replay.”
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Bukayo Saka’s injury, David Raya display and Lens defeat
READ MORE: Premier League release VAR audio for Tottenham vs Liverpool Luis Diaz offside goal
And that is exactly the point. Should the Premier League bow down to Klopp’s shocking demands, they will open up a can of worms beyond belief. Everyone accepts that the decision to rule out Luis Diaz’s goal against Tottenham Hotspur was wrong but to insinuate this has only happened to Liverpool is astonishing.
What about Arsenal? Should Mikel Arteta demand the 2022/23 season be voided due to Ivan Toney’s controversial goal in February? That incident, which saw the Brentford striker equalise at the Emirates Stadium, also received a PGMOL apology as not one – but two – players were offside in the build-up to the goal. The answer is, unequivocally, no.
This is not a case of whataboutery in Arsenal’s favour; every other club in the Premier League could cite unjust decisions that have taken place since VAR’s introduction. Liverpool bemoaned sporting integrity in their cut-throat statement but would arguably be doing more to undermine the spirit of the game than anyone if this game were replayed.
Would they play the game with nine men? A case could be made for Liverpool failing to win due to two players being sent off – taking their tally this season to three. Perhaps Klopp should look in the mirror before sermonising to the rest of us about sportsmanship.
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