Fulham manager Marco Silva believes referee Stuart Attwell “made a mistake” in awarding Liverpool a penalty which resulted in his side losing 1-0 on the night.
Mohamed Salah fired home the resulting penalty in the 39th minute after Fulham defender Issa Diop was adjudged to have fouled Darwin Nunez, a decision in which Silva called “embarrassing.”
“I will not say anything more because I don’t want to create more problems,” Silva said. “But it’s clear it’s difficult – almost impossible – to understand [how] that’s a penalty.
“But coming into half-time, losing 1-0 the way they scored the goal, it is embarrassing in football to concede a penalty like that.
“VAR did not take [a look] at the penalty and for us to understand, it’s difficult.
“We cannot control these situations, this season it’s happened many times against us but I prefer to focus on what I can control.”
Defeat moves fifth placed Liverpool closer to Manchester United in fourth, having played two games more than their rivals. Fulham remain tenth after a third straight league defeat.
Despite the controversy, the Portuguese was pleased with the performance from his side, who had chances to take the lead as well as opportunities to get back into the match after going behind.
“We knew when we came here that Liverpool were in a very good run, unbeaten in the last six, four wins in a row.
“First 25 minutes, we did it well. We created moments and the chances could have been more clear if the last decision, the last finish and we decide in a different way.
“Second half, reaction from ourselves, some good moments from Liverpool as well. They start to lose many, many balls in some moments and we have some good counter-attacks as well.
“Liverpool had chances in the second half but overall we deserved much more. To lose in that manner is really difficult for us to understand.”
Up next for Fulham is a home match against relegation strugglers Leicester City, whilst Liverpool welcome Brentford to Anfield.