Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has explained the two issues Michael Oliver and the Video Assistant Referee team faced when deciding whether to award Arsenal a penalty in the recent clash against Liverpool.
Thiago Alcantara was seen to have brought down Gabriel Jesus inside the visitors' area after knocking the back of the striker's heel when challenging for a cross. There was great controversy as to whether the contact from the Spain international was sufficient to warrant a spot-kick, with several confrontations breaking out among the on-field players as tempers flared.
The verdict was reviewed by VAR - tended by Darren England and Edward Stuart - which also ruled Arsenal to be awarded a penalty, in agreement with the on-field referee, Oliver. Bukayo Saka kept his cool and neatly dispatched his effort from 12-yards as the Gunners extended their spell at the top of the Premier League, snatching three points from Jurgen Klopp's side in a dramatic 3-2 win.
READ MORE: FA set to review incident at Emirates Stadium during Arsenal's win over Liverpool
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gallagher broke down the process of thinking which led to the north Londoners' penalty decision. He said: "I think it raises two issues.
"The first for me, it’s not inline with what we’ve seen this season, they’ve raised the threshold, there’s more physical contact. Without doubt he doesn’t play the ball and there is contact but is it enough to give a penalty? I think not.
"The problem is when it’s thrown to the VAR," the former top-flight referee added. "Michael [Oliver] will say in my view he hasn’t got the ball - which he hasn’t - in my opinion, he’s touched the player and made the contact which he has. There’s no evidence to say the referee hasn’t made the correct decision so the VAR should stay out so it will always default to the referee’s decision."
Klopp was furious with the decision which ultimately cost his side a point. Speaking after the game, the Liverpool boss said: "What can I say now about that situation? He thought immediately it’s a penalty which is interesting but his decision.
"Mr England had a look at it and thought as well it’s a penalty. We know in life if two refs think the same that is the truth we have to live with. If I see the situation back, if there was contact – and I’m not sure there was – there might have been soft contact, then the player goes again on both feet and then down, that’s an indication that something might have been made up. But not for the refs.
"But they thought it was a clear not handball in the first half when Diogo put the ball on Gabriel’s arm, and we cannot change that. Our situation is difficult enough with injuries on top of that, but in a game like this, when decisions go against you it’s kind of typical but it doesn’t help. Now we have lost the game."
The latter handball Klopp is referring to was labelled 'baffling' by many fans on social media. Gabriel Magalhaes, who was in close proximity to Diogo Jota, was seen handling the ball inside his own penalty area, denying the Liverpool forward from delivering a cross into the box.
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