Bournemouth defender Adam Smith has revealed what Liverpool players apparently said after Mohamed Salah’s penalty miss.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth in their Premier League clash on Saturday. It saw Liverpool’s five-game unbeaten run in the top flight come to an end, as well as ground lost on the top four race.
Philip Billing had put Bournemouth in the lead at the Vitality Stadium, but Liverpool had the chance to equalise from the spot. The Reds were awarded a penalty following a VAR check for a handball from Smith.
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The decision wasn’t given initially, with referee John Brooks instructed to look at the VAR monitor where the spot-kick was then awarded. It was Liverpool’s first penalty in the Premier League since April last year, but Salah stepped up and fired his effort wide of the post.
Speaking on Monday, Smith has claimed that the Liverpool players felt the decision to award a penalty was harsh. This was despite several Reds players at the time of the incident appealing to the referee to award a spot-kick.
“Honestly, the ref didn’t want to talk to us as players,” Smith told BBC 5 Live.
“It came on the big screen and even some of the Liverpool lads said to me, ‘blimey, that’s harsh'.
“I jumped, it may look like I looked at the ball, but I was naturally just looking at the player behind me and obviously it just hit my arm.
“I don’t know how I’m meant to defend the back post, I can’t jump with my arms behind me or down right by my side.
“You jump with your arms, so it’s really frustrating for a defender.”
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