'The law is clear' - Liverpool handed damning verdict by ex-PGMOL chief after controversial call vs Wolves
Referee Simon Hooper was the subject of controversy as Wolves fell to a 2-1 away defeat at Liverpool
Premier League leaders Liverpool maintained their seven point lead at the top of the table by recording a 2-1 home victory against Wolves in a nervy afternoon of football at Anfield.
The Reds took the lead through Colombian forward Luis Diaz after 15 minutes and looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory when the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah coolly tucked away his penalty from 12 yards.
However, a determined Wolves team who sit just two points clear of safety after Ipswich’s commendable 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, came back with fight in the second half and showcased their quality through a fine strike from Matheus Cunha just after the hour mark.
In the end, Liverpool held on to secure the points but it could have very easily been a different story if a key decision in the first half had gone in the Old Gold’s favour.
Ex-referee slams Simon Hooper for poor decision
Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has claimed that Ibrahim Konate should have been sent off the pitch for two two separate cautionable offences in the first half.
On field referee Simon Hooper issued a yellow card to the Frenchman for pulling Cunha back on the edge of the area as the Brazilian dribbled past him. However, Hackett has been critical of the referee for failing to punish a second incident moments later when the Reds defender kicked the ball away in an attempt to delay the restart.
“It would have been very easy to have issues two yellow cards for two separate offences.” Hackett told Football Insider.
A similar incident involving Gabriel Martinelli against Wolves in 2022 resulted in Michael Oliver giving the Brazilian a red at Molineux. However, Hackett explains that the correct law is not always carried out.
“Rarely does that happen. The law, however, is clear. Where two separate cautionable offences are committed (even in close proximity), they should result in two cautions. For example, if a player enters the field of play without the required permission and commits a reckless tackle, or stops a promising attack with a foul/handball etc.”
Vitor Pereira reacts to Wolves defeat
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira brutally admitted that he didn’t recognise his team at times during the first half after a catalogue of defensive errors cost his side the game. The Portuguese coach said: “In the second half, we proved that we are prepared to compete with every team in this league,” Pereira said during his post-match press conference.
“But when I look at the game, I see two different teams. The first team I didn’t recognise on the pitch from my team. Why? Because we didn’t play in our way, we didn’t force their mistakes, we didn’t press them in the way that I want to press. But in the second half everything changed because the mental click changed everything.
“When you go there and you play without fear, you play in your way with confidence, personality, trying to compete for the result without nothing to block your mind. The team proved they have quality and this is the lesson we must take from this game.”
He told Birmingham World: “In the first half we came just for the party, to see them play, and this is not our way to play or how to work. In my opinion we had too much respect for Liverpool in the first half. Our block was there but not to press, just waiting for the goal. This is something we must correct for the next game for sure, because we must be proactive and press them. But I’m proud of the way we played in the second half because we showed our quality, we showed our personality. They showed to me that I can be confident in the future.”
In other news, Pereira has confirmed three new Wolves injuries ahead of Saturday’s trip to face high-flying Bournemouth.