Paul Merson was asked to provide his insight on whether the game should have been stopped as Diogo Jota scored Liverpool’s equaliser against Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe was the most vocal over his belief that his side deserved a stoppage in play for a ‘head injury’ sustained by Isaac Hayden and said it was a moment that changed the game.
The incident has been long since discussed and the debate continued on Soccer Saturday where the former Arsenal man provided his thoughts on the possible foul.
The 53-year-old said: “If the kid’s knocked out, or he’s cut his head open, in this day and age … his elbow has only got to touch you and it can slit your face open.
“For me, he’s got to blow the whistle. He looks [at the player on the floor] and he doesn’t.
“For me, he should have stopped the game and it’s as simple as that, it don’t matter if it’s three seconds or four seconds, two seconds, call the game, see the game and watch the game”.
Mike Dean made a big call not to blow up and no matter what decision he did make, the referee would have upset at least one manager.
There was no knowing the extent of the ‘head injury’ at the time but seeing as the player came back on the pitch right after the goal and the replays suggested it was more a clash of shoulders than anything else, it would have been very unfair to lose a goal for that.
If it was given as a free-kick, surely this would start a precedent of every player going down from corners holding their heads in the hope of a stoppage in play.
You can watch the analysis by Merson courtesy of Sky Sports via @footballdaily:
Fouls, indirect free-kicks and match-fixing: Liverpool vs. Inter Milan 1965