Should Liverpool have been awarded a late penalty from Jeremy Doku’s challenge on Alexis Mac Allister? Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher gives his verdict on the incident.
Should Liverpool have had a penalty?
Liverpool and Manchester City’s title skirmish certainly lived up to the billing; an enthralling game of football that finished one goal a piece, but many observers felt Liverpool should’ve been awarded a late penalty.
Jeremy Doku raised his boot and caught Alexis Mac Allister as the two battled for the ball inside the Manchester City penalty area. Liverpool were outraged that VAR decided not to send Michael Oliver to the screen to check the incident again.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ ref watch feature, Dermot Gallagher was asked if Liverpool should’ve been awarded the penalty. He said: “From my point of view, it’s easy to give the penalty. If you give it, there won’t be much talk about it.
“Doku gets the ball, there’s no doubt about that – the argument is, does getting the ball negate a penalty? Well, we saw at Bournemouth [recently], no.”
The incident that Gallagher is referring to came in Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield United. Tom Davies tackled Dominic Solanke from behind and got a toe on the ball, but the challenge was deemed to be illegal and a penalty was awarded.
“VAR is sure Doku gets the ball, he’s right, so he decides to go with the on-field decision of no penalty”, Gallagher continues.
What did others referees think?
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was recently hired as part of the City Ground staff for Nottingham Forest, with club owner Evangelos Marinakis eager to understand official’s reasoning for certain incidents.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Clattenburg said: “This is the problem in the Premier League right now – referees are making mistakes in matches and not being helped by their VARs. The ball bounces up. Alexis Mac Allister moves towards it. Jeremy Doku’s foot is high. He catches Mac Allister in the chest.
“Outside of the box, this would have resulted in a free kick, every day of the week. Just because it happened inside the box does not suddenly transform it into a clean challenge when Mac Allister might be left playing connect the dots on his chest on Monday morning.
“Regardless of the magnitude of the match and the fact it happened in the 98th minute, this was an incident worthy of a penalty. Referee Michael Oliver missed it in real time at the end of an exhausting and exhilarating contest and so it was on VAR Stuart Attwell to intervene.
“This is where the frustration lies – we have seen similar incidents this weekend where Stockley Park should have told their colleagues on the ground that they had missed a penalty or a red card but didn’t. You only needed to watch Match of the Day 2 to see how other matches were let down by decisions.
“Everybody could see this was a penalty for Liverpool. Except VAR, that is, and it is that official’s opinion who matters most in these major moments of matches.”
Mike Dean’s opinion
Retired referee Mike Dean has offered his expertise to Sky Sports this season to allow audiences to get a better understanding of certain decisions. He raised an eyebrow when Oliver wasn’t sent to the screen for a second opinion.
He said: “I think he’s touched the ball Doku but with the follow through he’s caught him right in the chest. I think it could be a penalty. It’s a massive decision by the VAR. Tiny touch on the ball, but the follow through’s caught him on the ribcage.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Stuart sent him to the screen. Check’s complete. Obviously played the ball first and the follow through same as I’m guessing a normal coming together. He’s very, very fortunate in my opinion there Doku.”
Sky Sports offered an in-depth look at Liverpool’s suffering at the hands of VAR; around 20% of the mistakes made by officials this season have come in decisions against them.
In total, there have been 20 mistakes, with 17 of those occurring because VAR did not intervene when it ought to have.
Reds fans need not reminding of the most infamous mistake of the season, which saw Luiz Diaz’s would-be-winner against Tottenham incorrectly ruled out for offside.
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