There was great drama when Liverpool’s 2-0 lead against Crystal Palace was sealed with a controversial goal for Oliver Glasner’s side in the 70th minute. Right-back Daniel Munoz sent the ball into the net while Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman lay on the grass with what appeared to be an injury. Liverpool pulled it off with a 3-1 victory, but after the game, the Palace manager recounts a very special discussion along the sidelines – which had resulted in a deliberate own goal by Palace.
“We actually discussed it. I said that if the (Liverpool) goalkeeper had to go out with injury, I would definitely let us score an own goal. Because then it would be a serious injury, and it would be wrong (for Palace to score),” Glasner began after the game.
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“But in this situation, he only felt pain in the moment – as goalkeepers often do when they are hit from four or five yards out,” the Palace coach continues.
Who knows this anyway is a very difficult situation for the referee.
“The referee has to stop the game immediately if he considers that it is a serious injury, but one could imagine that the goalkeeper could continue the game. In such situations, it is dangerous for the future if you demand that the referee always stop the game, because on almost all set pieces we see that the goalkeeper is involved in duels. For example, if he knocks the ball away and then stays put, you never get a new phase in the game. That would not be good for football. The situation was not quite clear, but I think it was the right decision,” concludes Oliver Glasner.
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Who was ready to inflict a deliberate own goal on his club to compensate, if the Liverpool goalkeeper had been forced to go off injured.
Respect. Especially when it comes from a coach who has beaten Liverpool three times earlier in the season.
