Dermot Gallagher insists the decision to allow Liverpool’s winner against Newcastle United to stand was justified. In the build-up to Naby Keita’s first-half strike, a challenge from ex-Magpies midfielder James Milner on Fabian Schar launched a Reds counter-attack.
Toon fans were incensed inside St James' Park, believing the goal should have been chalked off because of Milner’s lunge. Loud boos were directed towards Andre Marriner at half-time but replays showed the Liverpool player clearly won the ball.
This did little to quell hostilities towards the officials as the Merseyside outfit coasted in the second half to another comfortable victory. Former referee Gallagher thinks the man in the middle made the right ball and his performance was the catalyst for a positive weekend of refereeing.
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“I don't think this is a foul,” he told Sky Sports. “This was a 12.30pm game on Saturday, it set a precedent for the weekend. I think that's a really good tackle. He wins the ball and then Schar goes into him, that’s why he goes over. Not a foul for me and I think that set the tone for the weekend (which) was a really, really good level.
“He didn't win the ball then go through Schar. If you watch, he wins the ball cleanly, Schar then connects with him and goes over - not a foul.”
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