24 Jan 2022 | 13:41 | Football
Liverpool won 3-1 after Friend awarded the Reds a penalty in the 89th minute after Diogo Jota’s collision with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Warnock questioned the competence of Friend and Pawson as well as referees in general, arguing that they let the top clubs get away with them.
The Eagles were leading 2-1 by Jurgen Klopp’s side when the incident took place. Initially, Friend did not award the penalty after Jota’s collision with Guaita. However, after advice from referee VAR Pawson, Friend looked at the screen on the side of the pitch, then pointed towards the penalty spot, creating the conditions for Fabinho to make it 3-1 for Liverpool.
Fabinho took the last-minute penalty.
Speaking to talkSPORT about the decision, Warnock said: ” The top clubs always get out. On Sunday I think it’s a great opportunity for a referee to really do something good. But with Kevin Friend, I turned to my son and said, ‘That’s a penalty.’ My son said, ‘Can’t be, Dad,’ and I said, ‘Just wait’.”
“They are two good referees overall but they let themselves down. I can tell after one look that it was not a penalty.”
Warnock is not the only one to criticize the pair. Gary Lineker tweeted: ” It was a really horrible decision.”
Jermaine Jenas said: “Another absolute shock from VAR, our standards of refereeing are so bad.”
