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Michael Owen has told Premier League Productions on Wednesday evening that he was shocked Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane decided to stay on his feet, when he had the chance to tap the ball into the back of the net against Newcastle.
Steve Bruce’s side held out for a 0-0 draw against Liverpool and had it not been for an excellent Alisson save, Ciaran Clark might have scored the winner at St. James’ Park. Liverpool came close to scoring too, with Fabian Schar the hero for Newcastle.
With Mane seemingly having the easy chance of tapping the ball into an empty net, Schar came racing back and cleared the ball from in front of the Senegalese attacker. Replays showed that the on-fire Karl Darlow might have tugged at Mane.
Liverpool icon Owen spoke after the match of his disbelief that Mane did not go down under the challenge of potential England call-up Darlow – or that he did not appeal more to referee Paul Tierney following the incident.
“I’m astonished Mane didn’t shout and ask the referee why it wasn’t a penalty, and two, that he didn’t go down there,” Owen said on £34million (BBC) signing Mane. “Because he is quite clearly grabbed.
TBR’s view – Mane did the respectable thing, but is it the right thing?
Clearly, Mane did not physically go down because the contact was not enough. But should he have? Owen also argued after the match that referees want players to go down as it gives them a decision to make.
Staying on your feet just causes uncertainty and normally will be ignored by the officials – even if there is contact. So players are should dive. If Mo Salah was Mane in that incident, there is much more of a chance that Liverpool would have a penalty.
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