Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss unhappy with Burnley tackling
Last updated on .From the section Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wanted more protection for his players from the officials in the win at Burnley - a game in which Joe Gomez was injured.
The England defender damaged his ankle in a challenge with Burnley's Ben Mee.
Klopp, who raised concerns with fourth official Mike Dean during the game, said "the injury threat was massive" from slide tackles on a wet surface.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche said it was a "fantastic tackle" by Mee and that he was "confused" by Klopp's reaction.
Gomez, one of only four survivors from the side that beat Everton on Sunday, had to be carried off in the first half.
"Joe's injured and probably not only a little bit," said Klopp after the 3-1 win at Turf Moor.
The 21-year-old has become a key part of Klopp's side, playing in 13 of Liverpool's 15 league games this season.
Klopp, whose side are two points behind leaders Manchester City, added: "We won the game but the challenges from the beginning, the sliding tackling on that wet ground, I really think the referee should have said something earlier.
"The injury threat is massive. That was hard.
"You get the ball, nice, but it's like bowling because you get the player as well. It happened four or five times.
"The first three or four challenges everybody likes it. I know that. It's part of football but it lead to the situation. OK, no foul but Joe Gomez is injured."
Dyche said his side had produced some "excellent" challenges during the game.
"I thought some of the timing of the challenges was superb. That's part of that front-foot mentality," he said.
"You've got to win the ball, you've got to challenge against these boys. You've got to put a marker on the game - not only with good tackles, but also with good play."
Speaking the day after the game, Dyche added: "I was a bit confused.
"There were some excellent tackles. The only one that was questionable was Bardo's [Phil Bardsley on Alberto Moreno].
"Ben Mee's was a fantastic tackle and I think Gomez realised that. We send him our best if there is any injury but it wasn't from a bad tackle.
"Of course football managers can question whatever they like but I don't think they can reinvent the rules.
"I don't think there's many fans in this country that want to see tackling go out of the game."
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Another fool taken in by Richarlison’s propensity for diving at the merest hint of an opponent tackling him! Obviously Neymar has taken him aside on international duty and taught him the tricks of their reprehensible ‘trade’.
It has nothing to do with "Big Teams" - it has everything to do with a poor and inconsistent standard of officiating. In both instances the ref was close and looking right at the situation
How many EPL refs were at the World Cup this Summer?
I am so over these old school British manager type tactics. If we had more managers like Howe & Southgate our national team would not suffer as much.
Anyone reasonable watching last night would realise that Burnley were being unnecessary, but ref allowed it tbf.
You saw Veratti's straight Red Card tackle that set the tone?