While the drab goalless draw at Anfield on Saturday certainly lacked fireworks on the pitch, we’ve seen no shortage of entertainment off the pitch since. Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has accused Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku of intentionally trying to injure him.
This follows up on both managers blaming the other for why the game lacked scoring opportunities.
On Saturday, LFC boss Jurgen Klopp called out United manager Jose Mourinho for parking the bus, while the MUFC man claimed Klopp’s three midfielder approach stifled the match.
On Monday, Lovren, while doing media opportunities for the Reds’ mid-week Champions League clash against Maribor, brought up his altercation with Lukaku late in the first half of the 0-0 contest. Lukaku was not booked by referee Martin Atkinson, while the Football Association studied the incident and decided against taking any action.
Lovren maintained that the Belgian was in the wrong and expressed his disappointment that the striker didn’t attempt to find him and apologize for the entanglement.
Lovren didn’t just stop there, he also hit out at the FA, claiming their ruling was in the wrong, as he believes United’s summer addition from Everton was trying to injure his face.
“I made the tackle and my honest view is that he did it on purpose,” said Lovren.
“Normally you would apologize. I saw that he was nervous during the game. It is over now and you cannot change it; no-one can change it. This is not my decision. I can’t say I am disappointed but it is what it is. That is football. It is part of the game.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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