Liverpool and Tottenham cannot seem to finish a game without a major refereeing controversy.
During the reverse fixture, Luis Diaz’s perfectly good goal was ruled out for offside due to a breakdown in communication between the VAR officials and the on-field referee.
Liverpool went on to lose the match against Spurs, and the event sparked such outrage that a replay was proposed.
On Sunday, the Reds avenged that loss with a well-deserved 4-2 victory over Tottenham, keeping their slender Premier League title aspirations alive.
After an hour, the home team led 4-0, and Ange Postecoglou would have been worried about his team’s chances.
Tottenham, however, did not back down and responded with punches of their own, including goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min, to make those inside Anfield nervous.
Joe Gomez prevented Brennan Johnson from scoring a header at the back post by acrobatically clearing the ball with his right boot.
Gary Neville called it ‘great defense’, and VAR was called in when Tottenham fans demanded a penalty.
The veteran right-back insisted that the Liverpool player couldn’t do anything to stop his boot from ‘continuing through’ and hitting Johnson on the head.
The on-field referee waved play on, while VAR reviewed the incident and suggested that the Spurs winger caused more damage to himself by hitting the post rather than Gomez’s boot.
Neville stated unequivocally that if a penalty was awarded, ‘all fullbacks need to go on strike’, as reported by Sky Sports.
Joe Gomez’s clearance to reject Brennan Johnson.
“Brilliant defending by Gomez,” Neville said. “He clears it. I’m not sure how that could be a foul.
“I think Joe Gomez’s defense is fantastic. He might follow through and kick Johnson in the head. But what else is he supposed to do? That cannot be a penalty. If that is called a penalty, all fullbacks must go on strike.
“He has done well to get his foot up there, for a start.”
Tottenham could not deal with Liverpool.
It’s a little late, but this is the aggressive performance that many Liverpool fans had hoped to see from their club in recent weeks.
But they’ll take the four goals here, which is perhaps a foreshadowing of what might have happened in the reverse fixture if Diaz’s goal had stood.
Ange Postecoglou’s side just couldn’t defend or stop Liverpool from wreaking havoc.
Liverpool led 2-0 at halftime, and the score should have been higher. After an hour, the score was 4-0, and it should have been higher.
