Jurgen Klopp has explained why he thinks Liverpool were rightly awarded a penalty during the win over Watford.
The Reds claimed a 2-0 victory over the Hornets to move to the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City faced Burnley in a 3pm kick-off.
Diogo Jota put the home side in front with a first-half header, thanks to a cross from stand-in right-back Joe Gomez. Fabinho, with Mohamed Salah subbed off, then stepped up and converted a penalty in the closing stages of the contest.
VERDICT: What Liverpool must do next in Man City battle clear as Jurgen Klopp proved right
RATINGS: Thiago Alcantara sensational but two awful against Watford
During a corner, Watford's Juraj Kucka was involved in a tussle with Jota, and appeared to bring down the Portugal international. Referee Stuart Attwell did not react to the incident on first viewing, but was instructed to go and look at the pitch side monitor by VAR.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp says that he had not yet seen the incident, and admitted his “surprise” over the decision. However, the Liverpool boss thinks that the challenge committed by Kucka was worthy of a penalty.
“I didn’t see the situation back, I asked and somebody said it was in the second post area, but I didn’t see it yet,” said Klopp. “I can tell you how often I watch football games in my life, and how often I said that must be a penalty, because it should not be allowed.
“If the ball is going there or not, why are you wrestling in the 18-yard box? We all want to see goals, and you can see more goals if we say that you have to defend set-pieces legally.
“If you take somebody and bring them down, it’s a penalty whether or not the ball is around. I’ve always seen it like this. I’ve not seen it back, but I was surprised that the referee went to look at the screen.”
