Leicester boss Rodgers fuming as Sadio Mane ‘made the most of the contact’ to win Liverpool late penalty

BRENDAN RODGERS was left irate with how Sadio Mane won the penalty that snatched Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Leicester on Saturday.

With the scores level going into stoppage time, the winger went down under a Marc Albrighton challenge.

VAR was called in to review the incident as replays showed only slight contact on Mane, Chris Kavanagh having decided the challenge came in far from the ball.

And Rodgers pointed out how the Reds star was looking for the foul as the game drifted towards a draw.

He told reporters: “We are bitterly disappointed to concede the penalty and it did not look clear and obvious to me.

“I think Sadio Mane made the most of the contact.

“I don’t think if it had not been given by the referee it would have been overturned by VAR.

“When the referee gives decisions it is hard for them to overrule it.”

MAD MATCH

Leicester matched Liverpool for much of the game at Anfield, James Maddison firing in the visitors’ 80th minute leveller after Mane opened the scoring on the brink of half-time.

The final whistle signalled the Foxes’ second defeat of the season – which has started with great promise.

So much so, Saturday’s defeat left them third in the table before West Ham’s evening kick-off, but Rodgers rued the dropped points nonetheless.

He added: “I thought we deserved more than that.

“It’s cruel to concede so late. I am very proud of the team.

“We’re playing against the European champions and we looked like we could get goals today.

“We were always a threat in the game, we had the confidence to past the ball. We are showing our personality in how we played. Our notion was to perform well.”

After the result was confirmed, Leicester star Ayoze Perez showed his anger at Liverpool’s actions and a scuffle broke out to round off an unedifying return to Merseyside for Rodgers.