Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested that Jurgen Klopp’s comments are the reason his team is getting fewer penalties.
Klopp suggested that last season United would get a disproportionate number of penalties compared to his Liverpool side, which Solskjaer believes is a reason his team doesn’t get as many more this season.
“We just have to hope that we get what we deserve. We should have had three penalties in the last two games,” Solskjaer said.
“A certain manager last year was starting to worry about us getting penalties last season and after that, it seems like the decisions are more difficult to give.
“I’ve seen a big, big difference since then on. But we have to just leave that up to the referees and hopefully they’ll make the right calls soon.” Solskjaer added.
This is not the first time Solskjaer has suggested the Liverpool coach’s comments have had an impact on referees.
Klopp was offended that his team had not been penalised with a penalty kick in the loss to Southampton in January and said at the time
“I’ve heard now that Manchester United have taken more penalties in two years than I have in five and one half a year.” Klopp said
“I have no idea if it’s my fault or how this could happen. But it’s no excuse for performance. We can’t change that, we have to respect the decisions.” Klopp added.
Since Klopp made his comments, United have scored seven penalties in all competitions, while Liverpool have scored three.
Solskjaer’s side has yet to suffer any penalties this season, while Liverpool have had two, one in the Premker League and one in the Champions League.
Since the Norwegian coach took over the Red Devils in December 2018, United have won 49 penalties to Liverpool’s 22 in all competitions.