Liverpool recently won 3-1 against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. It was a big result for the Reds as the eagles were really very good and caught them by surprise a couple of times.
Liverpool were off to a great start as Virgil Van Dijk scored the opener and later Alexander Oxlade Chamberlain doubled the lead in the first half. But Crystal Palace struck back at Liverpool when Odsonne Edouard pulled a goal back for the Eagles at the 55th minute.
After they reduced the deficit Patrick Viera’s men looked really good. They had chances to pull the back to level. But a late penalty to Liverpool changed everything for Palace as they lost 3-1 against the Reds.
However, Premier League legend Alan Shearer did not mince any words while describing the penalty decision from match official Kevin Friend. The penalty was handed to Liverpool at the 89th minute when Diogo Jota was about to receive a long ball as he took it past the Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and in the process he collided with the goalkeeper.
Kevin Friend did not hand the penalty initially but then after going through VAR, he handed Liverpool the penalty which was the killer blow for the spirited Crystal Palace.
Alan Shearer was simply not happy with the match officials and he was fuming at the Premier League post match show. “When I watched it live I thought ‘goal kick. He miskicked it,” Shearer said. “When I watched it in slow-motion nothing changed at all and for the life of me. Kevin Friend and Craig Pawson how on earth they both somehow get to this ridiculous, wrong, pathetic, stupid decision. Any other words you can give me? Can you tell I’m angry?”
The former Newcastle legend highlighted how poor the refereeing standards have been this season and how VAR is making the referee worse. “The standard of the refereeing this season has been awful, it has to be said. There has been so many poor decisions. VAR is actually making our referees worse. They’re under so much pressure. It’s never a penalty in a million years. How so-called experienced referees can get to that decision is baffling to me,” He opined.
It was a very crucial win for Liverpool, especially in their Premier League title chase. The Red and Chelsea are still chasing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The fact that the Citizens were held 1-1 at home against Southampton have given Liverpool and Chelsea a slight glimmer of hope to continue the chase.
