Newcastle rage at Mike Dean as Jota fires in Liverpool equaliser with TWO defenders down in penalty box after head clash
NEWCASTLE players raged at Mike Dean as Diogo Jota fired in an equaliser during Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Anfield.
The goal came with TWO Toon stars down in the penalty area after a clash of heads.
Newcastle took a shock lead at Anfield in the seventh minute after former Red Jonjo Shelvey smashed home a goal.
However, Liverpool were back in level terms in the 21st minute thanks to Portuguese hotshot Jota.
The versatile forward scored a sharp rebound to restore parity on Merseyside.
But the goal was mired in controversy as Fabian Schar and Isaac Hayden lay prone on the ground in the build-up after clashing heads.
Referee Dean allowed play to continue despite the incident.
And it ended up with Liverpool nabbing an equaliser to send the home crowd wild.
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Newcastle players were left stunned by Dean’s decision and immediately let the official know their true feelings.
However, their protests fell on deaf ears.
And pundit Mark Lawrenson showed little sympathy for their plight, saying: “Eddie Howe feels extremely aggrieved, but it was his own players who fouled each other.”
Yet football fans appeared to decide with Newcastle, with one saying: “Absolutely ridiculous that Jota’s goal stands. Should have been disallowed.”
Another declared: “How has that goal been given by the ref?”
One added: “Got to be fuming with that Newcastle.”
MARK HALSEY SAYS...
NEWCASTLE can feel unlucky that referee Mike Dean did not stop the game before Liverpool’s equaliser.
Isaac Hayden collided with team-mate Fabian Schar and stayed down on the ground with a potential head injury as Diogo Jota scored.
It’s a difficult call but, if I was presented with two players with possible head injuries after a clash in the box, I would use common sense and stop the game immediately.
Only Dean can say why he didn’t do that.
It does not matter who clashed or what the score is. The safety of the players is paramount — so I wouldn’t take any chances.
Newcastle also had a second-half penalty shout but I didn’t think it was one.
It was similar to the spot-kick awarded in the Arsenal versus West Ham game.
Trent Alexander-Arnold won the ball — like I felt Vladimir Coufal did — but this time the correct decision was made.
Liverpool ended up taking total control of the game just four minutes later when Mo Salah fired them 2-1 up.
And Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late thunderbolt sealed a 3-1 victory for Jurgen Klopp’s title hopefuls.
But speaking after the final whistle, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe slammed the decision to allow Liverpool’s equaliser while two of his stars were down.
Howe told BT Sport: “In my opinion the game should have been stopped before their equaliser with two players down. Two players down in the box and it had a huge bearing on our game plan.
“As soon as they score the crowd are in the game and it feels unjust. The referee said he thought he was holding his back but Isaac Hayden held his head, he was dazed for four or five minutes.
“It could be dangerous and we have to think of the players safety, you also don’t want to see games decided when you have players out of the game.”
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