• Premier League

Koeman and Rodgers at odds over penalty appeals

Ronald Koeman believes Southampton should have been awarded a penalty after Filip Djuricic was brought down by Joe Allen © Getty Images

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Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believes his side deserved more from their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday and declared his unhappiness at referee Kevin Friend.

Koeman believed Southampton should have been awarded at least one penalty after Filip Djuricic was felled under challenges from both Emre Can and Joe Allen. Friend, however, waved both appeals away.

Bad timing?

Sadio Mane was disciplined © Getty Images

• Southampton midfielder Sadio Mane was left out of the starting line-up for Sunday's defeat to Liverpool because he turned up late, according to manager Ronald Koeman.
• Mane, who later came on as a second half substitute, was replaced in Koeman's starting XI by on-loan midfielder Filip Djuricic.
• Koeman told BBC Radio Solent: "He was supposed to play from the beginning. We have rules we have to respect. I had a problem because Sadio was too late at the stadium."

The Dutchman told Sky Sports: "We know in football it's all about scoring goals. I think we played much better than Liverpool. We had more ball possession, more chances.

"I call it unlucky. And with some decisions of the referee. The second situation is a clear penalty. I'm very disappointed about the result but not about our performance. We deserved much more than we got.

"Maybe the experience of them and the real quality at the front we're a little bit struggling because we scored one goal in the last four games. It makes it a little bit more difficult."

Koeman's Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers disagreed about the possible penalty and was impressed by his side's defending, as Philippe Coutinho's stunning strike and Raheem Sterling earned them a fifth successive clean sheet away from home in the Premier League.

He said: "The first one, the player's gone over far too easy. With the crowd up, of course that puts the referee under pressure but I thought Kevin was excellent. All his decisions were correct.

"We defended magnificently. We knew we needed to improve. At the beginning of the season we couldn't get the right balance.

"Now there is and there's great confidence in the team. Our game still could be better but the result was important and everyone's contributed.

"Philippe Coutinho's goal was a wonderful goal in terms of the system of how we play, working the ball to the sides and drawing players out. It's a wonderful strike."

Rodgers was particularly impressed with the resilience his side showed only three days after their Europa League win over Besiktas.

He said: "We knew it would be a huge win if we could do it and it was. I thought we were really well organised and we controlled the game as it went on.

"Our passing could have been better but they were difficult conditions and it's an outstanding win. It's difficult to come here at any time and get a result but to do it on the back of a European result is brilliant for the players."

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