Jürgen Klopp criticized VAR official David Coote after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Anfield, stating that a “guy in an office” should have awarded a penalty following a Martin Odegaard handball during the first half.
Arsenal secured top spot in the Premier League on Christmas Day with the draw, despite Mohamed Salah cancelling out Gabriel’s fourth-minute opener. The point leaves Liverpool second, just one point behind the Gunners.
Liverpool manager Klopp argued that his team deserved a penalty in the 19th minute after Odegaard seemed to block Salah’s path to the ball with his hand inside the 18-yard box.
Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue, and the game was not halted for a VAR check, with Coote judging that Odegaard handled the ball while falling.
“Yes, I have seen it,” Klopp said. “I am pretty sure someone will come to explain to me why it was not a handball, but I don’t know how.”
“I don’t say that the ref can see it because I don’t know where he was at that moment.
“But how can a guy in an office see that and not come to the conclusion that maybe, possibly it could be worth the referee having another look?”
When asked about the incident, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “There were two big decisions. I have not looked at them again yet. I was asked before, but I have not seen them again.”
Jurgen Klopp Furious
After failing to secure the spot-kick, Liverpool faced another setback when left-back Kostas Tsimikas suffered a broken collarbone after colliding with Klopp on the touchline, having been bundled off the pitch by Bukayo Saka.
Tsimikas now joins fellow left-back Andy Robertson on the sidelines, as the Scotland defender underwent shoulder surgery in October.
“I had no pain but thought maybe Kostas was going to be fine,” Klopp said. “I would happily give my collarbone for him to be fit again. It is not cool when something like that happens in front of you and you are involved in it. I was not sure what even happened or if I fell on him. It is not nice to see.
“It is definitely broken, so he is out for a long time. The other issues we will have to see. It is hard for us to swallow with the Robbo [Andy Robertson] situation.”
Liverpool can move to the top of the table with a win at Burnley on Dec. 26, as Arsenal next play against West Ham on Dec. 28. Klopp said that this clash against Arteta’s team highlighted the quality of the two teams currently sitting first and second in the table.
“Neither side gave up,” he said. “Until the last second, it was top intensity; everybody felt it, super intense. Tough game, good game, in moments spectacular.
“Absolutely we take confidence from the result. You have to take confidence from these results and performances against a top, top side.”
Arteta agreed with Klopp, saying in his post-match news conference: “Unbelievable game of football. One of the most intense and hectic games I’ve witnessed in 20 years.”
