The reason Liverpool didn’t get a penalty against Manchester City has been revealed, but ex-ref Mike Dean isn’t sure it was the right call.
Liverpool missed out on a last-minute penalty against Manchester City despite Jeremy Doku kicking Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in the chest and leg while trying to kick the ball away after a corner.
It looked like Attwell might tell Michael Oliver to check the pitchside screen after he said no to Liverpool’s penalty shout. But that didn’t happen, with Attwell saying the check was done, the Mirror reports.
“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,” Dean explained to Sky Sports.
Stuart Attwell decided against sending Michael Oliver to the pitchside monitor
“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.”
Liverpool’s boss Jurgen Klopp had a chat with the ref after the game, saying later he was talking about the Doku incident. He reckons his team should have got a penalty and could have won if they scored it as he said to Sky Sports: “Maybe you can ask him, but our opinions aren’t important.
“Would you have given the penalty in that situation? Isn’t it [VAR] there for just making the right decision and not thinking about how high the bar is to overturn a decision? Anywhere else on the pitch that is a 100% foul, and it’s a yellow card. He hits the ball, and only because his foot is up here, he kicks him.
