Liverpool have had every reason to be upset with Manchester City over recent years.
Pep Guardiola and his team have been the sole reason Liverpool remain on just one Premier League title won during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.
Of course, there’s still time for the Reds to double that tally as they go for the league this season. But, as ever, City are there aiming to thwart them.
That’s why the clash between the two teams at Anfield earlier this month meant so much. It was a real chance for Liverpool to put some daylight between them and their nemesis. In the end, a point had to do. However, for plenty of supporters, it should have been much more. An incident right at the end of the game robbed them of the chance to claim a huge victory.
What happened with Jeremy Doku and Liverpool
We all know the scene by now: It’s the final second of the game and the ball is bouncing around in the City penalty box. Seeing the chance to nick the ball, Alexis Mac Allister goes in for a challenge with Jeremy Doku.
With Mac Allister rushing in, Doku lifts his boot, studs first, into the Liverpool man’s midriff. The decision? No penalty.
Had the call gone the other way, the Reds could have had the chance to win the game and secure an enormous three points. Instead, it was nothing doing.
In the days following the game, the decision was poured over in minute detail. Most believed Liverpool had been mightily unlucky. All of that added to Reds fans feeling like another big one had gone against them.
What has Jeremy Doku said
Not everybody thought it was a penalty, it must be said. However, judging by quotes this week from Doku himself, even the City man thinks he got away with one.
“Of course I agree,” the 21-year-old said with a smile via The Daily Mail. “No, it was a risky challenge. I could have dealt with it differently.
“I still believe it wasn’t a penalty but I know some other referees would have given it. But it wasn’t a penalty so I was a happy.
“Was I worried? For a moment when they were looking at the VAR and maybe looking for a penalty. For me is wasn’t a penalty, but I understand why some people are angry and why the Liverpool fans believe it was a penalty.”
Fair play to Doku for coming out and fronting up with this one. If reports from last summer are to be believed, the £55m man could easily have been lining up for Liverpool this season anyway.
It doesn’t help the Reds now, and in fact Doku’s words may only serve to inflame the sense of injustice. But it’s refreshing to hear a player speak honestly nonetheless. Now go out and make it all irrelevant at the end of the season, Liverpool. There’s a title to be won.