Former Hammers star Trevor Sinclair says referee ignored new Premier League rule for Liverpool goal vs West Ham United at the London Stadium.
West Ham leapfrogged Liverpool into third place in the Premier League with a memorable and thrilling 3-2 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The Hammers took an early lead through Angelo Ogbonna but the Reds levelled just before half-time when Trent Alexander-Arnold curled home a free-kick.
West Ham raced into a 3-1 lead in the second half with goals from Pablo Fornals and Kurt Zouma.
Liverpool substitute and reported West Ham summer transfer target Divock Origi then snatched one back in the last 10 minutes to set up a tense finale.
But the well oiled, highly organised David Moyes West Ham machine held on to take all three points and inflict Liverpool’s first defeat of the season.
Klopp has been having a moan up to anyone who will listen in the post match interviews.
But West Ham legend tricky Trevor Sinclair has rightly pointed out Liverpool were fortunate referee Craig Pawson failed to apply new Premier League rules for their equaliser.
Prem officials were told to crackdown on “soft and trivial” free-kicks this season.
Many fans, pundits, players and managers have hailed the rule change saying it has vastly improved the flow and competitiveness of matches.
Trevor Sinclair says referee ignored new Premier League rule for Liverpool goal vs West Ham
But Sinclair says the rule was completely ignored by Craig Pawson when Mohamed Salah went to ground on the edge of West Ham’s box having barely been touched.
Speaking on Twitter, Sinclair said: “Craig Pawson obviously didn’t get the no soft free kicks memo.”
Sinclair also claimed Liverpool forward Diogo Jota should have been sent off for an elbow on Ogbonna.
“How is that not a red card VAR? Just because Jota turns his back it’s still a secondary movement with his elbow to the head that opens Ogbonna’s head!!” Sinclair added.
Klopp won’t mention either of those incidents of course.
Sinclair finished by saying Champions League is a realistic goal for West Ham this season following the win over Liverpool.
“Moyes’s West Ham have beaten Man Utd, Manchester City and Liverpool in the last few weeks. Champions league is 100% a realistic goal. COYI.”