FANS are convinced that Garth Crooks has a grudge against two clubs after reading his team of the week reasoning.
The pundit wrote his weekly story for the BBC as he reflected on the weekend’s Premier League action.
Garth Crooks ranted about officials rather than going in-depth on his praise of Liverpool playersBBC
ReutersMohamed Salah seemed to reluctantly make his team of the week[/caption]
Both derby matches were marred by refereeing controversy as Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 and Chelsea were held 2-2 by Arsenal.
The Merseyside encounter saw Craig Pawson send off Ashley Young for two bookable offences while Ibrahima Konate escaped a second yellow after a similar foul.
And some believe the Blues got a fortunate penalty when William Saliba was judged to have handled the ball in the area.
Crooks went through his team of the week, focusing on praising most of the players such as, Kieran Trippier, James Maddison, Douglas Luiz and Bryan Mbeumo.
But when the former Tottenham striker included Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, his approval was short as he instead took the chance to hit out at officials.
Crooks’ paragraph on the Dutch defender read: “Was Everton’s Ashley Young’s sending off for a second bookable offence really necessary?
“If it was, then Konate had to go. Young’s tackle was a genuine one to try and win the ball. Konate’s challenge on Beto was cynical and crude and what the yellow card was designed for.
“Fortunately for Liverpool they have Van Dijk in defence who is slowly coming back to some kind of form.”
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Garth Crooks TOTW via the BBC
He continued to fume when discussing Salah, saying: “Referee Pawson’s inability to show some discretion in the Merseyside derby exposed him once he failed to exercise any consistency.
“Neither was it helped by Luiz Diaz who rolled over at least five times for dramatic effect after Young had fouled him.
“Meanwhile, Salah is back to his brilliant, unselfish and supportive best and has erased the sort of antics now effecting Diaz. It’s time Salah had a word with Diaz.”
And with Rice, Crooks initially said: “What exactly the referee expected the defender to do with his arms in that situation I can’t begin to imagine.”
Before adding: “Fortunately for Arsenal, Rice was on hand to score what was a brilliantly taken goal and provide the inspiration the Gunners needed to bounce back.”
Fans are convinced that Crooks has a grudge over Liverpool and Arsenal.
One said: “Big fan of Garth Crooks selecting Liverpool players in his team of the week through gritted teeth, and using it as an opportunity moan about someone else.”
Another added: “You can really tell when he hates the club.”
A third reacted: “Garth Crooks’ moan of the week.”
More commented: “Of course 90 per cent of Garth Crooks’ entry for Declan Rice in his team of the week is him ranting about the officials – what a guy.”
Crooks has already caused controversy this season after his comments about Luton were labelled “disrespectful” by their manager Rob Edwards.