Michael Owen and Paul Scholes did not agree on the controversial incident at the end of the first half of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield.
Owen and Scholes were analysing the game for Premier League Productions on Sunday evening, and the two former United players did not agree on the referee blowing the half-time whistle when he did.
Towards the end of the first half, Sadio Mane appeared set for a through ball, but referee Paul Tierney decided to blow the whistle.
The whistle seemed to go off six seconds before the allotted one minute of injury time, as reported by The London Evening Standard.
Former Liverpool and United striker Owen believes that it was the wrong call, but ex-Red Devils star Scholes thinks that it was right.
Scholes said on Premier League Productions: “The whistle goes as it’s time for half time.”
Owen replied: “Of course, that’s not necessarily what happened, is it? If there’s a chance brewing…”
When told by the presenter that the whistle could have been blown five seconds earlier, Scholes said: “Was it really? Well, that makes a difference then.”
Owen continued: “Even if it had been on the dot, I still think if you are about to cross the ball into the box or about to play a through-ball…”
Scholes responded: “If the time’s up, Michael, you have to blow the whistle. You can’t just always where this is going (to happen).”
Owen replied: “That’s another sport. Football’s not like that and never has been. If there’s a chance brewing, then the referee…”
Fair result?
United were a bit defensive in the first half, but the Red Devils had some good chances in the second period.
Marcus Rashford took too many touches instead of passing the ball to Edinson Cavani when he should have, while Alisson denied Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.
Liverpool had 66% of the possession and took 17 shots, but only three of them were on target, according to BBC Sport.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were not at their best in attack, and perhaps on the balance of play, the goalless draw was a fair result.
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