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Jose Mourinho refuses to discuss foul before Marcus Rashford goal for Man Utd vs Liverpool
Manchester United took the lead over Liverpool at Old Trafford through Marcus Rashford.
Jose Mourinho refused to discuss VAR’s role in Manchester United’s opening goal against Liverpool on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in controversial circumstances at Old Trafford.
The England star turned home from close range after a fine counter attack but replays suggested there was a foul in the build-up from Victor Lindelof on Liverpool striker Divock Origi.
Referee Martin Atkinson consulted with VAR but they deemed it not to have been a clear and obvious error and awarded the goal.
Can I run away from it? And focus just on what happened after
Jose Mourinho was working as a pundit for Sky Sports and presenter David Jones said to him: “The judgement is that it’s not a clear and obvious error Jose from the on-field referee.”
But Mourinho preferred to talk about the goal itself rather than the controversy surrounding it.
“Well, can I run away from it?” the Portuguese replied.
“And focus just on what happened after.
“Before the game I was speaking about Rashford being the only point of counter attack - United surprised because they have two.
“They play with five at the back as we expected but they are playing with [Daniel] James and Rashford as two wide strikers to try to exploit these spaces.
“And this goal is a fantastic transition where they get exactly what they expect from it.”
Meanwhile, former Liverpool manager and midfielder Graeme Souness did think Lindelof fouled Origi.
“I think Lindelof just catches the inside of his left leg and anyway you look at that, it’s a foul,” Souness said.
“[Joel] Matip could do better but saying that, Rashford’s movement is terrific.
“When you see this from this angle, there’s definite contact with Origi and the player, it’s a foul.
“Regardless of his touch, he’s been kicked below his left knee.
“We’re determining that not sufficient contact, you kick someone from behind it’s a foul, no discussion.”