Paul Merson reacts instantly to Liverpool v Lille controversy – ‘Phenomenal’
Paul Merson doesn’t believe Jonathan David was fouled before Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool the lead against Lille.
The Reds returned to Champions League action with a bang on 21 January as the Egypt international scored his 22nd goal of the season to open the scoring.
This strike wasn’t without controversy as the Ligue 1 outfit argued that the Canadian forward had been fouled in the lead-up to the 32-year-old’s goal.
Merson agreed with the referee, Felix Zwayer’s decision as he shared his instant reaction to the controversy on Sky Sports News (21 January)
He said: “They give the ball away cheaply. Jonathan David gets the ball and he’s in Liverpool’s half, he’s dilly-dallying on the ball and Tsimikas nicks the ball off him, he thinks there’s a foul, it isn’t.
“It falls to Jones, he plays a brilliant ball through the middle and Salah’s one-on-one with the keeper. The keeper comes out and he just bends it round him. Phenomenal finish.
“About three players for Lille were booked for arguing, it definitely wasn’t a foul.”
Jonathan David in Liverpool controversy v Lille
There is no doubt that the 25-year-old striker went down too easily for the French outfit in a moment which ultimately cost his side dearly.
Until that point, Arne Slot’s men had failed to create many clear-cut chances as Lille had defended admirably despite having very little attacking threat.
This moment of contention allowed Salah to capitalise as he so often does, in a moment which could ultimately secure top spot in the league phase of Europe’s elite competition.
The away side may look back at what they thought was a foul on David and suggest that is why they lost but ultimately the Anfield club were the better team on the night.
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