Southampton boss fumes over controversial Liverpool penalty decision | OneFootball

Southampton manager Ivan Juric believes Liverpool were wrongly awarded a penalty in the second half of their 3-1 defeat at Anfield on Saturday.

The Saints took a surprise lead through Will Smallbone in first-half stoppage time, but Darin Nunez cancelled it out shortly after the interval.

Liverpool went on to win the game after Mo Salah converted two spot kicks in the second half, but Juric felt the first one was unjustified.

Referee Lewis Smith awarded the penalty after Smallbone collided with Nunez in the box, although there didn’t seem to be much in it.

Read – Mo Salah admits Liverpool ‘slow and sloppy’ in Southampton win

Southampton boss Juric fumes over Liverpool penalty decision

“They reacted really well,” Juric told BBC Sport. “We had really good moments of the first half. I think the [first] penalty was not a penalty and that changed the match. I am satisfied with how we played today.

“This cannot be a penalty ever. 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.

“We can lose but we have to fight like we fight today.”

Southampton remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with just nine points from 28 matches. Liverpool, meanwhile, extended their lead at the top to 16 points with ten games remaining.

The Reds don’t play a top-flight match again again until April. In the meantime they welcome PSG to Anfield for the return leg of their Uefa Champions League last-16 tie and face Newcastle in the League Cup final.

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