Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge has claimed that Karim Benzema’s goal should have been chalked off in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Champions League final win in Kiev on Saturday night.
Loris Karius found himself at the centre of one of the most bizarre moments in European football when he rolled the ball off Benzema under no pressure at all, with the Madrid forward quick on his toes to deflect the ball into the back of the net.
? Mo Salah
? Gareth Bale
? Loris KariusIt wasn't to be for Liverpool…
The #UCLFinal seen through #NoFilterUCL ? pic.twitter.com/xTDDWhweRk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 27, 2018
Sturridge, who spent the second half of the season on loan at West Brom and was ineligible for the Champions League final, took to his personal Twitter account to claim that Benzema’s goal was against the rules, despite the referee allowing it to stand.
“Robbery mate!!! That’s not supposed to stand that,” he said.
Robbery mate!!! That's not supposed to stand that!!
— Daniel Sturridge (@DanielSturridge) May 26, 2018
OPINION
Sturridge is wrong and Benzema’s goal was completely legitimate as he was not actually blocking Karius from rolling the ball out, he was simply reacting to a very poor mistake by Karius. It’s really hard to see how the German goalkeeper comes back from this and that is surely his Anfield career over. Jurgen Klopp has ignored the lack of quality between the sticks for too long now and he surely must take some of the blame for not spending money on improving that area of his squad. It’s clear that Karius and Simon Mignolet are not two goalkeepers who are going to help win a Premier League or Champions League title, and that showed against Real Madrid as the Benzema goal was not Karius’ only gaffe. Liverpool need a world-class goalkeeper for next season. Jan Oblak and Gianluigi Donnarumma should not be out of their reach if they are willing to splash the cash.