VAR’s Instruction to Referee: Liverpool Penalty Denied – Unveiling the Truth
Liverpool fans were left frustrated and disappointed after a late penalty appeal was denied by VAR official Stuart Attwell in their clash against Manchester City. The incident occurred in the 98th minute of the match when Jeremy Doku’s studs collided with Alexis Mac Allister’s chest in the penalty area.
As the players battled for a bouncing ball, footage revealed that Mac Allister had touched the ball before Doku’s attempted clearance made contact. This led to immediate appeals for a penalty from Liverpool players, but referee Michael Oliver waved them away. The expectation was that VAR would intervene and overrule the decision, but that didn’t happen.
Within just 20 seconds, Oliver informed the players that the decision had been ratified by VAR and play would continue. This left Liverpool and Manchester City level at 1-1 when the final whistle blew. The denial of the penalty left many questioning whether Liverpool had been unlucky not to be awarded the spot-kick.
Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury shed some light on the decision, revealing that Attwell deemed Doku’s challenge to have been in a “reasonable” position. Despite Mac Allister potentially having stud marks to show for the contact, it was ultimately not considered a high boot from the Man City winger.
Former referee turned Sky Sports analyst, Mike Dean, initially suggested that Oliver might have been sent to the screen to make his own judgment. However, he quickly changed his stance after the check was completed in a matter of seconds. Dean stated that Doku was “very, very fortunate” and that it seemed like a normal coming together where he had played the ball first and followed through.
The denied penalty came as a blow to Liverpool, who had already converted one earlier in the second half. Mac Allister successfully scored from the spot after Ederson brought down Darwin Nunez. Another penalty conversion would have secured Liverpool a two-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and put them three points clear of Manchester City in third place.
However, with the denied penalty, Arsenal now find themselves at the top of the league, level on points with Liverpool. With only 10 games left to play, the title race is heating up, and every decision carries significant weight.
Liverpool fans will undoubtedly feel aggrieved by the denial of the penalty, as it could have potentially changed the outcome of the match and had significant implications for their title aspirations. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the final standings in the Premier League.