Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned his fire on Jurgen Klopp, seemingly accusing the Liverpool boss of having influenced refereeing decisions.
In January, Klopp suggested that the Red Devils were getting an inordinate number of penalties, and Solskjaer feels they have had considerable fewer spot-kicks since then:
“We should have had three penalties in the last two games. There was a certain manager who worried about us getting pens last year and after that it seems like the decisions were more difficult to give. I’ve seen a big difference since then on. You just have to leave it to the refs and hope they make the right calls very soon.”
Fans on Twitter backed Solskjaer’s robust comments with many believing that Klopp should have been criticised by the Norwegian a long time ago:
Finally he called him out
— . (@imganit) September 24, 2021
get em ole!
— Freddie (@odiousutopia) September 24, 2021
Yes Ole 💪🏼
— Kirsty 🦦 (@The1stMalteser) September 24, 2021
How many have we actually been awarded domestically since that rant by said manager? Joke
— RegularJon (@colesy1985) September 24, 2021
call him out let’s gooo
— кат (@angeIickat) September 24, 2021
Well he ain’t lying
— Triniboy (@DopwellEarl) September 24, 2021
YESSS OLEEEEE GIVE IT TO EMMM
— La Vida Loca 🇪🇬|🇮🇪 (@Choloo_Simeone) September 24, 2021
My man drew Klopp out for real, oles on smoke these days
— Izzy Raél (@IzzyI15) September 24, 2021
While supporters were irate with some of the decisions made by referee Martin Atkinson at the London Stadium last weekend, it should be pointed out the officials have been given clear guidance on penalties this season.
Contact with an opponent is no longer enough to point to the spot. There has to be no doubt in the referees’ mind that a player’s progress in the box has been stopped by a foul before they give a decision.
