'Way off the pace' - Richard Keys slams Liverpool referee from Chelsea game in outburst

Liverpool and Chelsea played out a highly-competitive and entertaining clash in the Premier League over the weekend - but former UK broadcaster Richard Keys has tried to divert attention towards to the referee.

With multiple penalty shouts - and one given - there were a handful of moments to break down after the match. We saw Mohamed Salah collide with Levi Colwill at one stage, Robin Sanchez have a penalty decision overturned by VAR, Jadon Sacho potentially trodden on by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo involved in bringing down and injuring Diogo Jota as he bordered on being the last man.

Both sides felt aggrieved at different stages and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca held a quiet contempt for official John Brookes in his post-match press conference. “The decision from the referee has been clear for you, it's been clear for me, and it's been clear for probably all of you. The referee is there to make decisions. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. Nothing to say."

Keys, writing in his blog titled simply ‘Richard Keys’, discussed the weekend’s event with a particular focus on the referee’s performance at Anfield. “On this occasion fair play to Liverpool - they beat what was in front of them, despite a series of bizarre decisions from the ref.

“My first question about his appointment would be why? This was only his second game of the season. It was too big for him. He was way off the pace. Why give him such a big game when he hasn’t been reffing?

“Chelsea should’ve had a pen before Brooks eventually gave Liverpool one. Sancho’s foot was clearly trodden on Kop end. Pen. Why was there no review? Salah tried to con one out of Brooks before Curtis Jones did. You could hear Brooks’ mind working ‘damn, I’ve just turned one down l, I’ll have to give this’. Yes, there was contact but it was no more or less than there had been on Sancho. It certainly wasn’t enough to send Jones tumbling.”