16 hours ago
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UEFA has explained why Liverpool was awarded a contentious penalty against Inter Milan, despite Andrew Robertson conceding it was a "soft" call.
Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to take spot-kick responsibilities in Mohamed Salah's absence and thundered home a late winner from 12 yards for Arne Slot's side. It proved a pivotal moment for the Reds, who had previously seen Ibrahima Konate's header controversially ruled out for handball following a VAR review.
While Liverpool was perhaps unfortunate to see Konate's goal disallowed, Alan Shearer has suggested that the English club was fortunate to be given a second-half penalty. Florian Wirtz, who had made a notable impact after entering as a substitute, was inside the area when he felt Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni tug the back of his shirt.
The Liverpool player went down after sensing the shirt pull, though his protest was initially dismissed. However, referee Felix Zwayer was directed to review the pitchside monitor to assess whether the shirt pull merited a penalty.
The match official determined it did and pointed to the spot. Szoboszlai then coolly dispatched an emphatic penalty past Inter keeper Yann Sommer. UEFA promptly offered its justification for the official's decision.
Their statement read: "VAR review complete. Decision overturned: penalty awarded. Penalty - foul. Inter's player, No. 95, pulled an opponent from the back."
Shearer suggested that the Inter squad would be "fuming" with the decision, while former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg offered his expert opinion on the matter. The Newcastle-based ex-official stated: "It was a shirt pull.
"However, that shirt pull... the player went down straight afterward.
"You know what, this is what is crazy about VAR. We all agree, as football people, that this is not a penalty, and now he is going to end up giving this as a penalty because of the shirt pull and the slow-motion replays."
Given the contentious nature of the disallowed goal, Slot, his team, and Liverpool supporters might feel they were due a bit of good fortune. It rounded off an impressive away performance in the Champions League for the Reds.
Even Liverpool's defender Robertson admitted the penalty was somewhat soft. The Scotland international remarked: "The penalty. It looked soft. But, if it's anywhere also on the pitch, it probably gets given. Thankfully, we got that one."
Before Tuesday's game, Inter had won 14 of the team's last 17 outings at the San Siro across all competitions.
Slot's side also visited Italy without Salah, who stayed in Liverpool following his heated outburst after the 3-3 draw with Leeds.
The result pushed Liverpool up to 8th place in the Champions League table on 12 points, although several other teams are yet to play.
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