Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has taken a different stance to Southampton manager Ivan Juric’s fiery reaction concerning Liverpool’s penalty during their recent clash.
The Saints, who are struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table, were defeated 3-1, despite putting up a strong fight in Saturday’s match against Liverpool The visitors led before Liverpool roared back, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Juric, the Croatian boss of Southampton, was incensed by the call that led to Liverpool’s first spot-kick when Darwin Nunez was deemed to have been fouled by Will Smallbone. The Uruguayan striker seemed to intercept before Smallbone’s clearance attempt struck Nunez.
Mohamed Salah converted the penalty, giving Reds’ boss Arne Slot’s team the advantage, with Nunez having netted just after halftime. Salah then secured the win towards the end of the game, ensuring Liverpool leapfrogged 16 points clear at the summit of Premier League standings, a gap narrowed to 15 points once Arsenal eked out a draw against Manchester United.
Juric vented his frustration post-match, lambasting: “I am a little bit. I think the first penalty was not a penalty and that changed the match.”
“This cannot be a penalty ever. The contact was too soft to be a penalty in England. I’m sorry it happened because it was 1-1 and it changed the match a little bit. We have lots of young players who want to grow up and improve.”
However, Gallagher has countered Juric’s take by labelling Smallbone’s challenge as “clumsy”. He explained: “I think it’s a penalty. When you make a challenge like that, you have to get the ball and he doesn’t. It’s clumsy. He catches the man.”
Gallagher also suggested Darwin Nunez was right to receive a yellow card for a late challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters. However ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock was far from complimentary.
He said: “It’s just a cowardly tackle, isn’t it. I hate them type of tackles because it’s just disrespectful to a fellow professional.”
