Liverpool coaches accused of swaying ref decision v West Ham United after incident
Stuart Pearce claimed complaints from the Liverpool coaches swayed the referee into giving a foul in their favour in their 5-1 EFL Cup against West Ham on Wednesday.
Speaking on TalkSPORT 2's live commentary of the match (25 September, 8:34pm), the former Irons left-back and coach said that Vladimir Coufal's first-half challenge on Federico Chiesa wasn't a foul.
Liverpool's coaching staff, however, reportedly pressured referee Andrew Madley into penalising the Hammers right-back, leaving Pearce frustrated before things soon spiralled out of control in a 5-1 thumping.
Pearce said: "My first thoughts there – that wasn't a foul. The referee didn't seem to give it, and then complaints from the management team seemed to sway his mind."
Lead commentator Ian Danter chimed in, asking: "You never managed to change a decision from your position as David Moyes' assistant, did you?"
Pearce replied: "Never, not once!"
No excuses for West Ham despite poor decisions v Liverpool
Although the Hammers can point towards several incidents which proved to be turning points in their cup tie at Anfield, losing 5-1 amid a second-half collapse is still inexcusable for Julen Lopetegui.
Fresh off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the London Stadium – breaking an unwanted record in the process – the Irons were much-improved in the first half, but wilted feebly yet again in the second.
Lopetegui does have a right to feel aggrieved with the refereeing on the night – particularly given Liverpool's third goal came following an incorrectly-given goal kick decision.
That came just a matter of moments before Edson Alvarez was sent off for a second yellow card, but the Irons conceding twice more in stoppage time shows how far off the pace they are so far this season.
Conceding eight goals in the space of a few days is far from good enough, and if Lopetegui is to show any progression whatsoever from David Moyes, he needs to tighten his side up at the back.
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