Warnock scores Salah tumble ‘9.9’ amid latest diving accusation

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock branded Mohamed Salah a diver after the Liverpool forward won a controversial penalty as his side moved back to the top of table.

Salah was grappled inside the area by Cardiff captain Sean Morrison, but Salah’s fall seemed to be exaggerated; nonetheless, referee Martin Atkinson had no hesitation pointing to the spot.

Warnock, predictably, was incensed and he likened Salah to British Olympic bronze medallist diver Tom Daley in his postmatch press conference.

The Cardiff boss has been outspoken on the standard of Premier League officials and, again, pulled no punches.

“I thought it was a soft one,” said Warnock, whose side remain in the bottom three.

“We gave him an opportunity, didn’t we? He’s got his arms round him and everything.

“I think the end of it was a 9.9 Tom Daley job. I don’t think he could have got much higher off the diving board at the end of it. But I’m sure you’ll be saying Warnock is a moaning so and so again.

“I think just after half time, the tug on Morrison’s shirt which should have been spotted when, Graeme Souness says (on Sky) by the letter of the law it should be a penalty because it stops him making a clear header at goal.

“We’ve not had any of those. He’s been pulled from pillar to post has Morrison and we’ve not had a penalty so we’re not going to start getting them getting now.

“Jurgen (Klopp) should do a job swap with me.

“They’re doing so well, I could have a go and he comes down here and see how he gets on.”

Salah has also been criticised for going to ground easily in attempts to win penalties against Newcastle and Chelsea earlier this season.

However, Liverpool manager Klopp defended Salah: “I think there is no doubt about it. If the defender uses the hand four or five times, it is a penalty.”

I think the end of it was a 9.9 Tom Daley job. I don’t think he could have got much higher off the diving board at the end of it.

NEIL WARNOCK

Cardiff manager