Solskjaer Responds To Klopp’s Jibe Over Man Utd Penalty Record

Klopp made the assertion after Liverpool fell to a 1-0 defeat at Southampton in the Premier League on Monday.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager opined that Liverpool could have been awarded two penalties on the day and felt the outcome of both situations could have been different had it been Manchester United.

“I hear now that Manchester United had more penalties in two years than I had in five and a half years,” the Liverpool manager said after his side lost for the second time in the league this season. “I've no idea if that's my fault, or how that can happen.”

Since Solskjaer became Manchester United manager in December 2018, the Red Devils have been awarded 42 penalties in the league compared to Liverpool’s 19.

Before last season’s FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Chelsea, Blues manager Frank Lampard also warned his defenders to be wary of his opponents’ tendency of going down in the box. Kurt Zouma’s challenge on Anthony Martial went unpunished by referee Mike Dean on the day although United still got a consolation from the spot later on in a 3-1 loss.

Solskjaer feels other managers are simply trying to influence referee decisions by constantly making reference to Manchester United’s penalty record.

“I don’t count how many penalties they have, so if they want to spend time on worrying about when we get fouled in the box, I don’t spend time on that,” Solskjaer replied when asked about other managers’ fascination with United being awarded penalties.

“I can’t talk on behalf of other managers, why they say things like this,” Solskjaer added. “Obviously I felt it worked last year in the semi in the FA Cup because Frank spoke about it and we had a nailed-on penalty that we should have had that we didn’t get.

“So maybe it’s a way of influencing referees. I don’t know, but I don’t worry about that. When they foul our players it’s a penalty. It’s just when it’s inside the box.”