'Need to go on strike': Gary Neville reacts to Liverpool-Tottenham controversy

06/05/2024 17:30

Liverpool and Tottenham can't seem to complete a game now without a huge refereeing talking point.

During the reverse fixture, Luis Diaz had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside after a breakup in communication between the VAR officials and the on-field referee.

Liverpool would go on to lose the match against Spurs, with that incident causing such an uproar that there were even suggestions that there should be a replay.

On Sunday, the Reds put the wrongs of that result right by securing a deserved 4-2 win over Tottenham and keep their very slim Premier League title hopes alive. 

The home team were 4-0 up after the hour mark and Ange Postecoglou would have been fearing the worst for his team.

But Tottenham didn't back down and proceeded to throw punches of their own, including goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min just to make those inside Anfield a little nervy.

That's when Joe Gomez denied Brennan Johnson the chance to score a header at the back post by acrobatically clearing the ball with his right boot.

Gary Neville labelled it 'brilliant defending', with VAR then checking the incident and Tottenham fans demanding a penalty.

The former right-back was insistent that the Liverpool man couldn't do anything to prevent his boot from 'following through' and catching Johnson on the head.

The on-field referee waved play on, with VAR checking the incident and suggesting that the Spurs winger did more damage to himself by hitting the post rather than from Gomez's boot.

Neville made it clear that, if a penalty was given, then 'all fullbacks need to go on strike', as he told Sky Sports (05/05/24 at 6:15 pm).

Joe Gomez's clearance to deny Brennan Johnson

"Brilliant defending by Gomez," said Neville. "He clears it. I don't know how that could be a foul.

"I just think that's amazing defending from Joe Gomez. He may follow through and kick Johnson in the head. But what else is he expected to do? There is no way that could be given as a penalty. If that's given as a penalty, then all fullbacks need to go on strike.

"He has done well to get his foot up there, for a start."

Tottenham couldn't cope with Liverpool

It's a little too late, but this is the attacking display many Liverpool fans wanted to see from their team during these past few weeks.

But they will take the four goals here and it's probably a signal as to what would have happened during the reverse fixture if that Diaz goal had stood.

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Ange Postecoglou's side just simply couldn't defend or prevent Liverpool from causing havoc.

At half-time, it was 2-0 to Liverpool and it should have been more. After an hour, it was 4-0, and once again, it should have been more.