Southampton supervisor Russell Martin was left “irritated” at two refereeing choices that he believes went towards his aspect of their 3-2 loss to Liverpool.
Martin’s bottom-placed aspect hosted the league leaders at St Mary’s on Saturday and, regardless of going 2-1 up, let the factors slip as Liverpool got here away winners.
It saved Southampton on the foot of the desk and prolonged the Reds’ lead over Man Metropolis to eight factors after 12 video games.
The afternoon was not wanting controversy, together with a possible red-card problem from Adam Lallana and a debatable penalty awarded to the hosts for a foul on the sting of the penalty space.
And chatting with Sky Sports activities after the sport, under-pressure supervisor Martin vented his personal frustration on the referee and VAR.
“I even have a problem with Adam Armstrong not getting a penalty at 2-1 up, I’ve a giant challenge with that. It is what VAR is there for.”
Russell Martin says he is ‘dissatisfied’ with Southampton’s efficiency and disagrees with VAR’s choices all through the sport. pic.twitter.com/h0St0quxeA
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 24, 2024
“Adam Armstrong not getting a penalty at 2-1 up, I’ve a giant challenge with that. After watching it again in slo-motion, it’s what VAR is there for,” he mentioned.
“Adam is attempting to play the ball, the goalie tries to play the ball and misses it and collides with Adam – then it’s given as a handball towards Adam.
“So for my part it’s a penalty. It’s not the rationale we lose, however at 2-1 that’s a giant, large second.
“Then in fact it’s subjective about Yuki [Sagawara]’s handball [for Mo Salah‘s penalty winner], I haven’t seen it again so I’ve to simply accept that.
“However I’ve a giant downside with that call [against Armstrong].
“There’s an actual, clear offside as effectively. We ask our guys to defend a excessive line from a large free-kick, perhaps a minute and 50 seconds or no matter earlier than they rating, however there’s 5 of their gamers offside and it doesn’t get given.
“So I’m irritated at that, I’m irritated at that.
“I’m happy with a variety of the efficiency, I’m irritated on the targets we concede and I’m dissatisfied we don’t get something from the sport.”
Each managers might really feel aggrieved at high-profile choices after the sport, although Martin’s most important disappointment got here from how Southampton gifted Liverpool two targets from errors on the again.
“Clearly I’m very dissatisfied,” he added.
“I’m very happy with a variety of the efficiency; I feel we went toe-to-toe with one of the best workforce within the league in the mean time.
“There was a variety of good things, a variety of stuff that we might have accomplished higher. I feel the standard of their targets is the largest disappointment, we present them.
“I wouldn’t thoughts if there was a little bit of particular person magic, however they’re actually not good, the 2 targets, after which the penalty as effectively.”
Southampton 2-3 Liverpool
