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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Gareth Bicknell

Fabinho's underhand moment that helped earn Liverpool win over Newcastle

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho was hailed as 'clever' by Jamie Carragher for the way he won the free-kick that gave Liverpool victory over Newcastle .

Divock Origi headed in a Xherdan Shaqiri free-kick to give Liverpool a 3-2 win at Newcastle and send his side back to the top of the Premier League.

Fabinho had earned the set-piece as he went down under a challenge from Newcastle's Matt Ritchie.

And fans of deposed leaders Manchester City won't be happy with the decision after Fabinho appeared to go to ground far too easily.

Former Liverpool stars Carragher and Graeme Souness couldn't agree on the incident. Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher defended Fabinho, saying he went down to ensure he got a free-kick following an earlier contact from Ritchie, while his fellow pundit Souness was adamant there was no foul.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Fabinho after the win over Newcastle (Getty Images)

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Souness said: "The free kick in the lead up to the third goal shouldn't have been given. Matt Ritchie will be cursing this.

"How the linesman can give it. You don't fall like that! That isn't a foul.

"What is the linesman seeing there that he can possibly give a foul for?

Divock Origi heads home the winner from Xherdan Shaqiri's free-kick (Getty Images)

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Carragher said: "I felt like he gave it not because it was a foul but when someone has a nibble, he got really tight.

"If Fabinho had gone done for the first touch then he would have got the free kick so the foul was almost given for the first contact rather than the end when he threw himself to the floor.

"It was stupid from Ritchie and clever from Fabinho."

Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher had differing views on the incident (SkySports)

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Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey agreed with Souness, saying Liverpool should not have had the free-kick.

"The free-kick for the winning should not have been awarded," Halsey told The Sun .

"Fouls are subjective decisions for referees but I felt it was not a free-kick.

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey said the free-kick should not have been given (REUTERS)

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"Fabinho was very clever, he's gone to ground very easily and assistant referee Simon Long has fallen for the free-kick.

"I am sure when referee Andre Marriner watches the video back he will not be pleased with his assistant's decision to flag for a free-kick.

"Newcastle's Matt Ritchie is a very honest player and I can understand his frustration at the free-kick being awarded."

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