Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted his side were lucky with the free kick that led to Lewis Dunk’s equalizer against Liverpool
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted his side were lucky with the free kick that led to Lewis Dunk’s equalizer against Liverpool.
The Reds led 2-1 midway through the second half when Solly March tried to drive through Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.
March was caught between the bodies and fell and referee Anthony Taylor was convinced it was a free kick and Brighton scored through Dunk.
It was a situation Liverpool should have done better when Andy Robertson shot wide, but De Zerbi insisted it was not a free-kick. However, at the post-match press conference, the Brighton manager insisted that the previous handball incident with Virgil van Dijk was a penalty for his team.
“I think it was a penalty, but it wasn’t a mistake to score the second goal,” he told reporters.
“I’m honest. I told Jurgen what I thought.”
De Zerbi and Klopp, who share a mutual respect, have made several exchanges on the sideline, with the Liverpool manager explaining that he is trying to distract his counterpart by risking a red card.
“I love Klopp,” continued De Zerbi. – He can do what he wants because I respect him a lot and consider him one of the best coaches in the world.
“I like his demeanor. When he says something, 99 percent [of the time] I agree with him.
– I think there was a clear penalty in that situation and I told the referee – I think in a good way – what I was thinking at that moment.
Another flashpoint occurred during Sunday’s game when Dominik Szoboszlai pulled down Pascal Gross. He didn’t try to get the ball and pulled the Hungarian back with his shirt.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty and Mohamed Salah scored, but IFAB rules indicate that Gross should have been sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Asked if he thought his side managed to finish the first half with 11 men, De Zerbi pointed to some problems Brighton themselves had with VAR.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
“When you say that, you have to analyze the offside of Aston Villa’s second goal, Aston Villa’s third goal.
“You have to analyze last season in the Palace game, we scored one 100 percent goal, in the Leicester game there was a clear penalty.
“We can talk until tomorrow night and not come to an agreement. “I think there was a penalty, but for me it’s over. I spoke two minutes ago, the dunk goal, the desert was not bad for me.
“I think I’m one of the most honest when I talk to you, your peers.”
