Liverpool's Frustration Bows To West Ham, Klopp: Referee Takes Cover Behind VAR

Jurgen Klopp (Twitter @lfc)

JAKARTA - Liverpool swallowed a bitter result after visiting West Ham United headquarters on Sunday, November 7th. The Reds lost 2-3 to the hosts. The result clearly makes coach Jurgen Klopp dissatisfied. However, the coach actually felt the referee's decision in the match made him frustrated.

According to Klopp, referee Craig Pawson prefers to hide behind VAR for his controversial decision. This made Klopp annoyed but could not do much.

"So the referee just said: 'Don't do anything, let's see what VAR says', then hide behind that phrase, and in the end, we made the wrong decision," Klopp was quoted as saying by Liverpool's official website on Monday.

In that match, the Reds were surprised by a quick goal when the game had only lasted 4 minutes through an own goal from their goalkeeper, Alisson Becker.

At that moment, Alisson tried to divert Pablo Fornals' corner into his own net under pressure from West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna. Even though he finally conceded, Klopp assessed that Ogbonna had committed a violation first.

Unfortunately, Pawson still allowed Alisson's own goal after he checked the VAR footage.

"This is a clear violation of Alisson. How can I not? The arm of Ogbonna is there," said the coach.

"You always have to say the referee maybe in the game could see it, but when you look at the dynamics of the whole situation, when they are all down, how close they are."

"They were so close, how could it not be a foul without pushing Alisson's arm?" said Klopp annoyed.

Not only that, but Klopp was also unhappy with the referee's decision to let Aaron Cresswell escape punishment after making a high tackle on Jordan Henderson. He was feeling frustrated again.

Apart from Klopp's disappointed expression at the referee, Liverpool was indeed forced to go home with only one point. This defeat was the first for the Reds throughout the Premier League competition for the 2021/2022 season.