The thing with the ref and the penalty was that you had the feeling some time before it that he would give it if the chance arose. Their players had started going to ground very easily all over the pitch and the ref gave them every decision. He rewarded every dive and embellishment leading up to the pen.
I'd noticed that too.
There's some good posts in here, regarding criticism of team selection being hindsight knowing the result. Truth is we dominated the match, we played football, we just couldn't quite finish the chances we created. Even Super City (no real disparagement intended) have struggled against packed defences, Huddersfield being the stand-out. They got a late win, we got screwed by a ref eager to give a decision, to be 'part of the spectacle', as Clattenburg might have it.
More importantly, since the Spurs game, we have increasingly looked to control games, rather than just relying on our attack. There is an attempt at a greater structure in our midfield and defence, building toward attack, rather than just releasing counter-attacks. A bit more control.
Yesterday, we got bit by a blip.
As for Mane and the missed pass, I agree it was there to be played, and I am sure next time that position that same situation arises the pass will be made.
But 2 things, 1) strikers and confidence/arrogance is always going to cause decisions like yesterday from time to time.
And 2) more suggestively, some of our collective ire at the non-pass is that our recent performances had led us to expect it, to know it was coming, to be anticipating it, and the ensuing celebrations. That is how we have come to expect us to play (apologies for that sentence). But the pass didn't come, and nor did the goal.
We should remember how far we have come though that we didn't just see the pass, we expected it, because under Klopp, that is what we do.
