1 week ago
7
Liverpool has been told that both penalty decisions made during its defeat to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday were correct with Simon Hooper and then Tim Robinson angering the home crowd at various points in the contest.
Hooper allowed more than the initially advertised three minutes of added time in the first half because Kevin Schade's goal came just as the clock ticked onto 45 minutes. In stoppage time, Milos Kerkez got on the scoresheet.
But it was Liverpool who was frustrated at other points in the game. Cody Gakpo felt that he was fouled at one stage, while Virgil van Dijk gave away a soft penalty for a minor foul right on the edge of the box.
Nonetheless, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg says the two penalty incidents were called correctly. In the case of Van Dijk, while it was harsh, VAR only applied the laws of the game.
"Van Dijk clearly made contact with Dango Ouattara’s foot on the line of the penalty area," Clattenburg told TBR Football.
"The line of the penalty area is part of the penalty area, so any contact would result in a penalty kick. My first impression was that the contact was outside, but all the angles show it was on the line."
As for Gakpo going down, the player was too quick to go to the ground and there was deemed to be not enough contact to cause such a fall.
"Gakpo wanted a penalty kick when he was challenged inside the penalty area," Clattenburg said.
"The referee’s decision not to award a spot kick was an excellent one, as it’s clear that Gakpo sees the leg of the defender and throws himself to the ground.
"Referees look for unnatural action from attackers when awarding a penalty kick, and it’s clear from the replays that Gakpo’s arms are above his head. If the fall was natural, the arms would be outstretched, breaking the fall."
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Head coach Arne Slot said at the final whistle that this was his side's worst defeat of the four consecutive losses it has suffered in the Premier League.
"You are always hoping if you win a game of football during the week," he said.
"Although it is only two days' rest when you come over here, of course you are hoping for a better result, but I was also hoping and expecting a better performance.
"The performance was far from what we are used to. Even if we are losing, our performances have been better than tonight."
English (US) ·