Roy Hodgson fumes against Mohamed Salah penalty decision after defeat by Liverpool
Roy Hodgson was left furious by Michael Oliver’s decision to award Liverpool a penalty as his Crystal Palace side lost a tense encounter at Selhurst Park, and felt his side should have had their own spot kick in the dying moments.
Hodgson’s men had matched their visitors for the first half until Mohamed Salah crumpled tamely under a challenge from Mamadou Sakho just before the break.
Oliver awarded a penalty, converted by James Milner, but the home crowd raged at the decision and Hodgson doubled down on their anger in his post-match press conference.
“There is some comfort or pride in the team's performance, but it's not going to change my anger at the way we came in at half-time a goal down.
“I don't think that's a penalty. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
"It's a cause for frustration and anger. But if you ask me about the team's performance, I thought it was very, very good.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted he hadn't seen the incident himself, but Hodgson continued to be dumbfounded at Oliver's decision.
“It's not a penalty. I've been in football a long time. If that's a penalty, then the game has changed beyond all recognition. There's no way he's looking to foul the player. He's trying to defend. There's no way he's looking to get contact on the player himself.
“I don't want penalties for my team in that way.
“I don't think we gave away a penalty, and I don't think Liverpool deserved to be leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to that penalty.”
Hodgson’s anger was compounded by the fact that he felt Palace should have had their own penalty late in proceedings as substitute Max Meyer was tripped.
“I do think it was a penalty when Max Meyer is wiped out in the area when [Virgil] Van Dijk dives in.
“It’s too brief to say anything on Max[’s debut performance], but he did get us a penalty situation. I would have given that penalty if it had been in training. I suppose he could be quite happy with that.”
