Eddie Howe points finger of blame at Mike Dean after Newcastle United defeat at Anfield
Eddie Howe was certain when the pivotal moment had been at Anfield.
Jonjo Shelvey had given Newcastle a shock seventh minute lead and with United looking pretty comfortable, it all changed twenty minutes into the game.
Two Newcastle United players falling to the floor after the ball was delivered into the penalty area, both appearing to have head injuries, Isaac Hayden remaining on the ground.
If this had happened at the other end of the pitch, there is absolutely no way that play wouldn’t have been stopped.
However, local referee Mike Dean ( from Heswall, only 13 miles from Anfield) did nothing, choosing to ignore the prone Isaac Hayden who was lying on the edge of the six yard box. The inevitable happened, as the ball was played back into the middle and despite Martin Dubravka producing an excellent save, Jota equalised at the second attempt.
If the absolutely shameful refereeing from Mike Dean was so predictable, even more predictable was the fact that the appalling BT Sport commentary team agreed with the non-decision.
Unbelievable, every single similar incident where a player goes down with a potential head injury, the Premier League referees stop the game immediately.
Eddie Howe:
“In my opinion, the game should have been stopped before their equaliser, with two players down.
“Two players down in the box and it had a huge bearing on our game plan.
“As soon as they score, the crowd are in the game and it feels unjust.
“The referee said he thought he [Hayden] was holding his back…
“But Isaac Hayden held his head, he was dazed for four or five minutes.
“It could be dangerous and we have to think of the player’s safety.
“You also don’t want to see games decided when you have players out of the game.”
Stats from BBC Sport:
Liverpool 3 Newcastle 1 – Thursday 16 December 8pm
(Half-time stats in brackets)
Goals:
Liverpool:
Jota 21, Salah 25, Alexander-Arnold 87
Newcastle:
Shelvey 7
Possession was Liverpool 74% (77%) Newcastle 26% (23%)
Total shots were Liverpool 23 (12) Newcastle 4 (2)
Shots on target were Liverpool 8 (6) Newcastle 2 (2)
Corners were Liverpool 11 (6) Newcastle 0 (0)
Referee: Mike Dean
Newcastle United:
Dubravka, Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Lewis (Ritchie 15), Hayden, Murphy, Shelvey, Fraser (Willock 87), Saint-Maximin (Wilson 79), Joelinton
Unused Subs:
Darlow, Hendrick, Gayle, Longstaff, Almiron, Clark
(Liverpool 3 Newcastle 1 – Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to Thursday’s defeat – Read HERE)
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