Gary Neville Fires Back at Klopp’s Call for Liverpool vs. Tottenham Replay

Gary Neville has taken a lighthearted stance in response to Jurgen Klopp’s plea for a replay of the Tottenham vs. Liverpool match following a critical VAR error.

In a match that left Liverpool reeling, Luis Diaz’s goal was mistakenly disallowed, leading to their 2-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. The controversy escalated as the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) released the VAR audio, unveiling a moment that raised eyebrows among fans.

The possibility of a replay looms if an appointed commission determines that the match officials violated the laws of the game.

Klopp himself is a vocal advocate for a rematch against Spurs, asserting that Diaz’s disallowed goal was a clear miscarriage of justice. Addressing the media before Liverpool’s Europa League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, he emphasized, “This is an unprecedented situation. Something like this has never occurred before, which is why I believe a replay is the appropriate course of action.”

When asked whether Liverpool had made, or planned to make, an official request to the Premier League for a replay, the German manager responded, “At this stage, we are still in the process of reviewing the information we have.”

He further remarked, “The audio evidence has not altered our stance. It’s an obvious error, and there should be a remedy for such situations. The fair outcome should be a replay, although the likelihood of that happening is slim.”

Neville, on the other hand, has entered the fray with a blunt response to Klopp’s replay proposal, which he shared on social media. Taking to his platform, he expressed, “Can’t believe how Liverpool have turned a victory into defeat in their handling of this! They were wronged by a shocking mistake. End of!”

When questioned about his apparent change in tone compared to his stance on Saturday, Neville explained, “It’s because Liverpool’s statement escalated the situation, mentioning integrity and exploring options. Now it’s clear they desire a replay! That’s beyond belief.”

While the debate rages on, Klopp and Liverpool will need to put the replay discussions on hold as they prepare for their Europa League fixture. Their focus will then shift back to Premier League action when they face Brighton on Sunday.