Premier League Sadio Mane is not a diver – said Liverpool Boss Jürgen Klopp

Liverpool Boss Jürgen Klopp defends Sadio Mane saying his striker is not a diver after the Senegal international was denied a penalty against Saints in Premier League.

Southampton surprised Liverpool on Monday after a quick goal of former Red Danny Ings.

But the Anfield side could have equalized as Sadio Mane was fouled in the penalty area. But the former Southampton player was not given a penalty as reports claim he dived.

Klopp then came to rescue his player saying it is a joke, believing Mane is diver.

Read more: Salah and Mane are in good terms – Mohamed Aboutrika

“The best situations were when Sadio had the ball,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “Anyone who ever again says Sadio Mane is a diver is the biggest joke in the world. This boy tries to stay on his feet. There were two situations where other teams will get a penalty for it.

“The handball, I do now know who will explain that to me.

Sadio Mane vs Walker-Peters.
Sadio Mane vs Walker-Peters.

“If this boy went down easy, we could have had a penalty in this game and a stonewall penalty in the last game [against Newcastle]. But what Andre Marriner did with Sadio Mane tonight, I’m not sure that’s OK, to be honest. 

“He tried absolutely everything, a few great challenges with [James] Ward-Prowse, but there were a lot of situations which were free-kicks as well. The last situation where he goes down in the box, if you see that, he [Walker-Peters] hits him again with his left foot. It’s another penalty. 

“I hear now that Man United had more penalties in two years than I had in five-and-a-half years. I’ve no idea if that’s my fault, or how that can happen.

“This does not make our performance better, it should not take anything away from Southampton, but in these situations we were very unfortunate at least.”


Aimé ATTI

Aimé ATTI is a bilingual journalist who breathes football and shares his passion on Africa Top Sports

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