Ex-Everton star gives clear verdict on Liverpool penalty after Dominik Szoboszlai miss

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes Liverpool's first-half penalty, which saw midfielder Dominik Szobozslai hit the crossbar against Burnley, was correctly awarded

Dominik Szoboszlai hit the crossbar from the penalty spot during the first half of Liverpool's clash with Burnley(Image: Getty Images)

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes Liverpool was correctly awarded a penalty during the first half of their clash against Burnley when Cody Gakpo was fouled by Florentino Luis.

Just after the half-hour mark at Anfield, Gakpo was brought down in the box by the Clarets midfielder, prompting referee Andy Madley to point to the spot. The Reds forward cut inside from the left before being fouled by Luis.

Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to see his effort thunder off the crossbar. Thankfully for the Hungarian, his blushes were spared just before the break when Florian Wirtz gave Liverpool the lead with a stunning strike.

While there had been some suggestion the Reds penalty looked to be a soft one, former Toffees midfielder Osman was of the belief it was correctly awarded.

"He [Luis] doesn't quite know where the ball is," said Osman following the penalty being awarded.

"He doesn't get anywhere near the ball and is reaching around, and he catches Gakpo."

Dominik Szobozlai's penalty cannoned off the cross bar(Image: Getty Images)

"There is clear contact, knee on knee. I am not surprised it is given. unnecessary from a Burnley point of view and nine times out of 10, that is a penalty."

Thankfully for Liverpool, the penalty miss, which was Szoboszlai's first since November 2021, mattered not when Wirtz fired the Reds in front before the break.

"Bad penalty miss and Szoboszlai has been guilty of being way too slow when we break," wrote one fan on X at half-time.

A second joked: "Szoboszlai’s miss means that still no goalkeeper has saved his penalty."

Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring Liverpool's first goal during the Premier League game against Burnley at Anfield.(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

A third said: "Szoboszlai missed penalty earlier but we kept pushing and are deservedly in front."

A fourth said: "Ekitike and Wirtz show constantly man. I was worried after that Szoboszlai penalty."