Garth Crooks named two Liverpool players in his infamous BBC Team of the Week column, but they didn’t receive much praise amid a tirade against their teammates.
Instead, Crooks used their sections to attack Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate after their antics at the weekend.
Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday thanks to two goals from Mo Salah, but the match was marred by controversy.
Diaz threw several times after Ashley Young fouled him, prompting the Everton player to be dismissed, and Konate was fortunate to later escape a send-off after a tactical foul on Beto, as the Toffees counter-attacked and he was the last man used to be.
Virgil van Dijk and Salah were the picks to be elevated to Crooks’ Team of the Week, but he pulled no punches when it came to discussing their teammates.
Garth Crooks reserved column inches for extensive criticism of Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz
He accused Diaz of rolling for ‘dramatic effect’ after Ashley Young’s challenge, which saw the Everton star sent off in the first half
Konate was not sent off for a cynical foul against Beto, despite already receiving a yellow card
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He felt that if Young’s dismissal for a second bookable offense was necessary, Konate should also be given his marching orders after an earlier yellow card.
‘Young’s tackle was a real attempt to win the ball. Konate’s challenge to Beto was cynical and rude,” he wrote.
‘(That’s) what the yellow card was for, but the Liverpool defender didn’t get one for the challenge in question.’
However, Crooks praised Van Dijk for regaining his form after a difficult period last season.
Further down Diaz, Crooks accused him of histrionics.
He wrote: ‘Luiz Diaz rolled over at least five times for dramatic effect after Young fouled him (…) It’s time Salah had a word with Diaz.’
According to the BBC columnist, Salah has overcome the theatrics of which he was often accused in the past.
He described him as “back to his brilliant, selfless and supportive best.”
Crooks named Mo Salah, who scored two goals, as one of his front three in his Team of the Week
Virgil van Dijk earned a coveted spot in the BBC columnist’s backline and Crooks praised him for returning to some semblance of his old form.
That sentiment was echoed by Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton, who detailed the striker’s reputation as Liverpool’s best ever player.
Meanwhile, referee Craig Pawson was also in the former Spurs man’s line of fire. According to Crooks, he “failed to show any consistency” in how he dealt with Young and Konate.
The result left Liverpool temporarily top of the table, but they dropped to fourth after other teams played.
Meanwhile, Everton sit in 16th place after a challenging start to the season.