adminJoe Gomez has been criticised for appearing to exploit the rules during Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night.
Former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett believes referee Andy Madeley should have intervened after an unusual incident involving the Liverpool defender during the first half at Anfield.
Liverpool secured their place in the next round of the competition with a convincing 3-1 victory over Spurs. Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all found the net for the hosts, while Conor Gallagher scored Tottenham’s only goal of the night.
Although the match itself passed without any major controversy, one unusual moment involving Gomez caught the attention of Hackett.
Why Keith Hackett criticised Joe Gomez
The incident occurred around the half-hour mark when Liverpool were awarded a throw-in in an advanced position.
With pitchside towels now prohibited because they can cause unnecessary delays during matches, Gomez needed to find another way to dry the ball before taking the throw-in.
Instead of using a towel, the Liverpool defender appeared to ask a nearby ballboy to dry the ball on his tracksuit while sitting beside the pitch.
The unusual method drew criticism from former Premier League referee Hackett, who felt the referee should have stepped in.
“Frankly this is unacceptable,” Hackett told Tottenham News.
“I am surprised that the referee did not intervene.”
Hackett’s comments suggest that, while the incident may have appeared harmless, he believed Gomez’s actions crossed the line when it came to the proper handling of the ball during a throw-in.
Tottenham’s difficult start continues
Despite finding the back of the net against Liverpool, Tottenham’s difficult start against Premier League opposition continues.
Gallagher’s goal was significant because it ended Tottenham’s wait for a goal against a Premier League side this season. However, Spurs remain without a victory against top-flight opposition after five attempts.
Their only win in all competitions so far came against Charlton Athletic in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Tottenham did show some promising moments against Liverpool and looked capable of causing problems during certain periods of the contest. However, Liverpool ultimately proved too strong at Anfield, scoring three times to progress in the competition.
The result means Tottenham’s Carabao Cup campaign is over, while Liverpool move forward after another impressive night on Merseyside.
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