‘Didn’t do anything wrong’: Jurgen Klopp defends Tottenham Hotspur star

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended Eric Dier and told Sky Sports PL (28/09/20 at 10:15 pm) that the Tottenham defender ‘didn’t do anything wrong’ amid the handball controversy.

Newcastle walked away from Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium with a point on Sunday after Dier was penalised for handball even though the ball came from behind him and he had very little time to react.

All that drama that unfolded over the weekend has seen supporters, current managers and ex-players criticise the current handball rule.

Klopp also added his name to that list and he jokingly suggested that players will need to ‘cut arms off’ in order to prevent themselves from giving away penalties.

“Eric Dier didn’t do anything wrong and it’s a penalty,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “You cannot see it and you cannot really control your body, at that moment. It’s just not possible.

“Try to jump in a situation like this and behind you is a player, so we have to move somehow. The only opportunity is to cut arms off. We don’t want to do that.

“I think the refs are not really happy with the rule, but at that moment, we have that rule.”

As soon as the penalty was awarded on Sunday, Jose Mourinho wasted no time in heading down to the tunnel and back into the dressing room before Callum Wilson could put away the spot-kick.

During the two games on Monday – Aston Villa’s win at Fulham and Liverpool beating Arsenal – such an incident didn’t occur, but the fear is that it will be a regular thing from now on.

Spurs are in League Cup action tonight when they take on their London rivals Chelsea and Mourinho will be hoping that the drama from Sunday doesn’t filter its way into tonight’s match.