Rodgers Laments ‘Soft’ Penalty Award As Foxes Denied

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers admits conceding a last-minute winner against Liverpool was hard to take and says the penalty award was ‘soft’. The Foxes arrived at Anfield looking to build on their impressive start to the season and came so close to earning what would have been a well-deserved point when James Maddison equalised Sadio Mane’s first-half strike with 10 minutes remaining.

However, deep into five minutes of added time, Marc Albrighton’s loss of possession and subsequent challenge on Mane allowed James Milner to score from the spot to seal a 2-1 victory and extend Liverpool’s winning run to 17 successive Premier League matches – one short of Manchester City’s record.

The defeat left a bitter taste in the mouth of Rodgers, who felt Mane “made the most” of the challenge which led to Liverpool earning the penalty and the three points.

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A VAR check ruled there was no reason for Chris Kavanagh to change his decision, much to the frustration of Rodgers. “To concede a 95th-minute penalty was difficult to take,” said Rodgers. “I think he has made the most of the contact. Strikers now, they are clever. He has had a touch and gone over. “If the referee didn’t give it I don’t think anyone would have said it was a clear and obvious error.

I thought it was a very soft penalty, not clear and obvious that is for sure, but when the referee gives it, it is hard for the VAR to go against it. I thought we deserved a point.”
Meanwhile, Leicester have said they are “appalled” at racist comments directed towards midfielder Hamza Choudhury on social media on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse following a tackle that injured Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah during the game.
A Leicester spokesman said: “We are appalled by these comments, which the club has reported to the police and to the social media platform on which they were made.”