Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko was withdrawn at half-time against Liverpool.
After scoring his 12th goal of the season in the first half against Liverpool in United’s 3-2 win, Benjamin Sesko did not come out for the second half.
The change was due to an injury, and the obvious moment he sustained one was where the striker was shoved into the advertising hoardings by Liverpool defender Ibrahim Konate.
Referee Darren England did not even award a free-kick to the Manchester United striker.
After the game Michael Carrick confirmed after the game: “He’s been carrying a shin problem for some time, he got pushed and caught the bit that’s been causing him some problems.”
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‘Sesko was fouled’
Former referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to United In Focus following Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
Clattenburg’s assessment was that Benjamin Sesko was quite clearly fouled by Konate.
“The referee should have awarded a foul for a Konate push on Sesko,” he said.
The incident have a more severe impact because of the steep drop off the pitch due to the way Old Trafford is designed.
Clattenburg insisted that this should not form part of the referee’s judgment, or turn Konate’s foul into a yellow or even red card.
He explained: “At other stadiums, there is plenty of room between the pitch and the advertising hoardings but Old Trafford has a steep drop. The referee can only judge the foul and not what happens after leaving the field of play.
“Yes, the referee should have awarded a foul but there was no need for any disciplinary action.”
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Clattenburg on Sesko’s goal
Benjamin Sesko’s goal was reviewed by VAR amid a check whether the ball touched his hand on it’s way into the net.
Clattenburg said that his initial impression was that Sesko’s goal was fine, until the replays.
Asked whether it should have stood, he responded: “Not according to the laws of the game.”
So why was the goal permitted if the ball struck the striker’s hand?
Clattenburg explained: “The only thing I can thing is that [Stuart] Attwell does not have enough evidence to clearly see the ball touch the fingers.”
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