‘Thought he was Maradona’ – Fans fume ref is ‘only man in world’ who didn’t see Liverpool star Endo’s blatant handball
FOOTBALL fans were left in disbelief after Michael Oliver missed an “obvious” handball from Liverpool star Wataru Endo.
The Reds midfielder was seen hitting the ball with his hand as he attacked a cross from the right wing.
However, the handball was not noticed by the referee.
And the lack of action had fans raging on social media, with some comparing him to Argentina football icon Diego Maradona, who scored the infamous “hand of god” goal at the 1986 World Cup.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan said: “Endo thought he was Maradona.”
A second said: “Endo with his Maradona impression.”
A third argued: “Clear handball on Liverpool’s Endo, referee says no handball and then Liverpool win a corner after this handball, Brentford could’ve conceded a goal.”
Another said: “Endo think he is maradonna or its basketball we are playing here.”
A fifth added: “How was that not a handball on Endo?”
While a sixth commented: “Michael Oliver is the only man in the world who didn’t see that Endo handball lmao.”
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TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher was also perplexed by the call.
He said: “When you asked me what I was laughing at – it was the fact you have a clear hand ball in the opposition box and VAR can’t do anything about it.”
Liverpool’s match against Brentford – which you can keep up with with SunSport’s live blog – was Endo’s first start for Jurgen Klopp‘s side since returning from Japan international duty at the Asian Cup of Nations.
Endo, a £16million summer signing for Liverpool, has proved to a surprisingly vital part of the team’s table-topping success so far this season.
They are yet to lose a Premier League game where the ex-Stuttgart star has started.
Klopp – who announced he will be leaving the club in the summer – reserved special praise for Endo in December.
He said: “We see him every day in training and he is one of the hardest-working people I ever met.
“It was always clear that it will be good, but I’m happy obviously for him that the public could see it now as well, because that’s pretty helpful in our job…
“He gives something different to the team, we have to say, that’s clear. He’s the one for the tackles.
“We don’t have now 20 players on the pitch who have tackling as a hobby. He is doing it.”
Darwin Nunez opened the scoring for Liverpool in the first half when combining with Diogo Jota on an electric counter-attack, finished off with a deft chip over Bees goalie Mark Flekken.
However, Jota was left looking distraught moments later as he was stretchered off the pitch, which itself followed an injury to Curtis Jones.