Jermaine Beckford blasted Martin Keown’s claim that Liam Cooper was asking the referee to send him off during Leeds United’s 2-2 draw at Everton over the weekend, as he told BBC’s Final Score (21/08/21 at 3:30 pm)
Everton opened the scoring in front of a packed-out Elland Road crowd after VAR adjudged that Cooper fouled Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the penalty area.
Replays showed that the Leeds defender was pulling on the Englishman’s shirt, as the spot-kick was awarded and converted by the Everton hitman.
Cooper was insistent that it was a bit of handbags from both and was seen arguing at the decision awarded.
Whilst Beckford was in agreement that it was a penalty, he told Keown to ‘come off it’ after he claimed that the Leeds man was asking Darren England to send him off.
“It was a clear penalty,” said Beckford. “I think Liam Cooper let Calvert-Lewin get the wrong side of him then he was pulling his shirt.
“They were pulling each other shirts, don’t get me wrong. But as a defender that’s the last thing you want to do. Cooper isn’t happy and is having a go at the referee.”
Keown added: “The only thing he could be arguing about is he is saying to the ref ‘you should have sent me off’. It’s a definite foul, so I don’t know what he’s arguing about. But what else could he be saying to the ref? It’s ridiculous. Frustrating. You see a player arguing. He’s so guilty.”
Beckford responded: “Oh, come off it. No, come off it. A booking and a penalty is enough. How many times have you done that in your career?”
Leeds would have felt aggrieved with the decisions made over the weekend, as Leeds fans were able to see their team in the flesh upon their return to the stadium.
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Whites were able to pack out Elland Road to watch a top-flight fixture.
It’s not the start that Marcelo Bielsa would have wanted because his team have only picked up one point from two games.
That’s not going to be the issue worrying the fans, it’s the case of them conceding seven goals in two games.
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