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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen & Richard Garnett

Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on Virgil van Dijk penalty decision against Liverpool

The decision to award Fulham a penalty against Liverpool on Saturday was the correct one, according to Dermot Gallagher.

The Reds appeared to be back on track after Darwin Nunez levelled the scores at 1-1 with 25 minutes to go at Craven Cottage but the hosts were able to retake the lead in the 72nd minute when Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have brought down Aleksander Mitrovic in the penalty area - who dusted himself down to convert from the spot.

A Mohamad Salah tap-in saved the Reds a point but when the penalty decision - which underwent a VAR check - was reviewed on Sky Sports News' 'Ref Watch' segment, former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher agreed with the on-field decision of match referee Andy Madley.

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Gallagher said: " It’s a mistimed tackle and it’s a foul, dangles a leg, doesn’t get the ball, penalty. I think why people didn’t think it was a penalty at first was because they were looking at the feet, it wasn’t a foot foul. You look at the feet he hasn’t caught him, but he did."

The decision proved costly for Liverpool, who had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Marco Silva's newly promoted side, dropping two points in their first game of the season. Fulham looked hungrier than Klopp's team in the opening stages and were good value for their point.

The Reds must now quickly turn their attention to collecting three points against Crystal Palace when the Eagles visit Anfield on Monday, August 15.

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