Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has taken to Instagram to troll Anthony Gordon following the Merseyside derby.
The Everton star controversially dived in an attempt to win penalty during the first half of Sunday's clash at Anfield which Liverpool won 2-0. Gordon, adamant that he did not dive, was booked by referee Stuart Attwell for his poor sportsmanship in the first half - a 45 minutes filled with antics which left Jurgen Klopp raging - and Sturridge has rubbed salt in his wounds via social media.
The 32-year-old noticed that Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, who Gordon claimed to have fouled him in front of the Kop End, held his arms away from the Toffees winger in a position reminiscent of his signature celebration. Sturridge, who now plays for Australian side Perth Glory, wrote on Instagram : "There's never a wrong time drop this move," and tagged Keita.
Not only did Gordon's actions see him yellow carded, but the 21-year-old was later denied a more dubious penalty after colliding with Joel Matip with the scores still 0-0. Eight minutes later, Reds defender Andy Robertson gave his title-chasing team the lead before impact substitute Divock Origi wrapped up the win with a customary derby-day goal.
The result moved Liverpool back within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City, while Frank Lampard 's Everton remained in the relegation zone following Burnley 's 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier on Sunday. Post-match, Lampard was pleased with the performance of his men but unhappy with Attwell's display as referee, alleging that Klopp and co are afforded special treatment at Anfield which stretches back to his playing days for Chelsea.
"It was a penalty in the second half. I don't think you get them here. I think if that is Mo Salah at the other end, he gets the penalty," Lampard claimed. "I am not trying to create conflict there, I just think it is the reality of football sometimes.
"Maybe I have played for clubs sometimes at the top reaches of the league, with the crowd behind them, you get more than you don't. The second one on Anthony is a foul. It is a clear foul. But you don't get them here."
Having watched replays of Matip's trip, Reds legend Jamie Carragher was forced to admit that the Toffees should have been awarded a spot-kick. "He's got to be careful Anthony Gordon, he's a local player and I know some of his friends and family," Carragher explained on Sky Sports. "He's a great player and lad, one of the best on the pitch today.
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"He caused Liverpool massive problems, it's not the first one in the first half, he's just got to be careful of that. It'll definitely be in referees' heads and maybe he hasn't got what he's deserved because of a few incidents in three or four other games. But that said, it's a stonewall penalty."
Greame Souness echoed his fellow pundit and Anfield icon's verdict but suggested that Gordon's first-half dive cost his side in the long run. "In the first half, the young boy gets booked for diving," Souness began. "He's got to get out of that, because right away the referee's then looking for it. He might have got it had he not dived in the first half.
"He's planted a seed in the referee's head, and if we're players out there then we're in the referee's ear, calling him a diver. So you're planting the seeds in the referee's head too."
