Roy Hodgson has hit out at Stuart Attwell and VAR John Brooks after awarding Liverpool a late penalty that Fabinho converted to beat his Watford side 2-0, speaking to talkSPORT.
The Hornets fell behind midway through the first-half at Anfield on Saturday when Diogo Jota headed home Joe Gomez’s cross. The Reds were not at their absolute best, but had the measure of Hodgson’s side. And they eventually sealed their win in the 89th-minute.
Brooks advised Attwell to view the pitchside monitor after Juraj Kucka grappled Jota to the ground at a corner. The incident occurred at the far post, with neither player near the ball at the time. Yet having been more of a rugby tackle, Brooks felt it merited being reviewed.
Attwell agreed and pointed to the spot, before Fabinho thumped home to ease tensions in the Liverpool squad against Watford. The Hornets never let the Reds rest easy while only a goal up. A very different story to the 5-0 thrashing they bore at Vicarage Road in October.
Roy Hodgson left with ‘bad taste’ from controversial Liverpool, Fabinho penalty
Liverpool’s win over Watford lifted Fabinho, Jota and co above Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table. They had not topped the standings since October, but stayed there for just a matter of hours before Pep Guardiola’s side beat Burnley to move in front.
The Reds will now visit the Etihad Stadium next Sunday hoping to eliminate the one-point deficit against them. Watford, meanwhile, will host Leeds looking to climb out of the drop zone. But the Hornets have now played three games more than Everton in 17th-place.
Hodgson will, likely, also want some consistency from the officials when Watford face the Whites at Vicarage Road. Attwell and Brooks’ decision to award a penalty for the incident between Jota and Kucka astounded the Hornets boss for his only frustration at the result.
“A penalty is given when nobody on the field of play thought there was a penalty,” he said. “To have that against you is the only disappointment. It leaves a bad taste. I can accept 1-0 but it’s hard to accept 2-0 when a decision like that goes against you.”
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