Manchester United: Liverpool’s penalty was only ‘controversial’ in the Sun
Liverpool defeat Manchester Untied 2-0 in the Europa League and the tabloids get to work. Liverpool’s first goal was scored from the penalty spot. The Sun leads with this “controversial penalty”, the “second for Liverpool in four days”.
The paper reminds readers that on Saturday Christian Benteke had gone to ground easily at Crystal Palace, his tumblr helping to secure the penalty he then scored to win the game. No other paper harks back to that match.
The Mirror, which unlike the Sun is read on Merseyside, says United’s Memphis Depay “brushed” over Nathaniel Clyde just inside the box.
In the Mail, Depay “placed a restraining hand on his [Clyde’s] shoulder and tangled legs. Either would have been sufficient to justify the penalty award…”
The Express says “Depay sent Clyde crashing to the turf”.
Manchester United manager Louis Vn Gaal agrees with the Sun: “It was a cheap penalty…the referee cannot see that because…he held him outside the box and then he is falling down.”
The Times, the Sun’s stablemate, says “any offence bean outside the area”.
As for the local press to the bother clubs:
Liverpool Echo: “Sturridge stepped up to convert a penalty in the 20th minute after Nathaniel Clyne had dashed into the box to collect a Roberto Firmino pass and been tripped by Memphis Depay. It was close but looked just inside.”
Paul Scholes in the Manchester Evening News: ““Anywhere else on the park this isn’t given as a free-kick.”
Such are the facts.
Posted: 11th, March 2016 | In: Back pages, Liverpool, manchester united, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
