Refs Do Not Need To Be More Punished Than They Are Already – Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool were “lucky” to not have Simon Mignolet dismissed during their 3-0 midweek win at Stoke City.

“First of all, I think was the first time in the season that we were lucky in this situation, to be 100 percent honest,” he told a news conference.

“I have to admit that we were lucky.

“When I gave the interviews after the game I was 100 percent sure it was the right decision because I thought Joe Gomez was in a covering position.

“I didn’t realise, from my point of view, that it was pretty much 100 percent a goal after that [the foul]. It wouldn’t have been a penalty — it was outside the box.

“But yes, if there’s a red card for Simon Mignolet then we cannot argue.”

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said he felt Atkinson should not be officiating this weekend following the error.

“I understand that he’s not happy about this decision, 100 percent,” Klopp said, but added: “I don’t think refs need to be more punished than they are already.

“In this situation after the game, everybody is talking about them all the time. The best thing after a game is that nobody is speaking about the referee. That doesn’t happen too often.

“I know we are all emotionally involved in the game. You want fair decisions, but it’s always a point of view.

“The refs decide like they do and it was very often for us in this season that it was not for our fortune.

“I respect and like Mark a lot, so I can imagine that he thinks it was a very decisive moment in the game. That’s how it is.”