Mark Lawrenson told BBC Sport that Jordan Henderson was accusing Conor Coady of ‘cheating’ during Liverpool’s 4-0 win against Wolves on Sunday.
The Wolves captain anticipated a challenge from Sadio Mane in the penalty area, only for the Liverpool attacker to pull out at the last minute.
But that didn’t stop the Wolves defender from throwing himself to the floor and it was quite clear that the Liverpool players around him weren’t impressed with his actions.
Lawrenson highlighted that Henderson was one of the players who wasn’t happy with Coady and the referee made the correct call not to award the away side with a penalty.
“There was definitely a challenge,” Lawrenson told BBC Sport. “Jordan Henderson was straight over to Conor Coady to say ‘no way it was a penalty I think you are cheating’.
“I don’t think he touches him looking at the replay. Jordan Henderson seems to be saying to the referee that he wants Conor Coady booked,
“If it’s not a penalty then he needs to be booked for diving. Well done to VAR and the referee for getting that one right.”
Coady’s actions would have perhaps surprised many Liverpool supporters because they wouldn’t have seen their former academy product as that type of player.
But that’s where the game is at today because the rules allow players to go down in the box with minimal touch and then be awarded a penalty.
Whilst others will continue to do it in the game, it will be a surprise if Coady finds himself in such a situation again.
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