Keith Hackett: Liverpool robbed of penalty after Brentford incident
Yesterday at 03:45 PM
Liverpool should have been given a penalty kick before scoring two stoppage time goals to eventually win at Brentford, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there was enough contact in Bees ‘keeper Mark Flekken’s challenge on Luis Diaz to award a spot kick.
Arne Slot’s side needed two late goals from Darwin Nunez to claim all three points in that game at the G-Tech Stadium on Saturday (18 January).
Things though may have been easier for Liverpool had they been given a spot-kick midway through the second-half that Hackett felt they should have been awarded.
Liverpool denied penalty after Mark Flekken challenge on Luis Diaz
With 63 minutes on the clock, a shot from Diaz from just inside the Bees’ area was only parried away by Flekken.
As the ball then ran along the byline, the Liverpool striker and Brentford ‘keeper found themselves in a race to win possession.
Initially Flekken managed to keep the ball in play to prevent a corner, but in a second attempt to bring it under control, instead saw Diaz fall to the ground appealing for a penalty as the ball ran behind.
Referee Andy Madley dismissed those claims for a spot kick, a decision that was confirmed by VAR, although Hackett believes although contact was minimal, the visitors should have had a penalty.
Giving his verdict on the decision not to give a Liverpool penalty to Football Insider, the former referee said:
“I think it was a penalty kick. I think the goalkeeper’s actions, left himself open, when you lunge for the ball even when you’re on the floor and you catch your opponent, who is moving slightly away from you it’s a penalty kick, but it’s a soft penalty kick.“
Thanks to Nunez’s two late goals, and Arsenal’s draw with Aston Villa, Liverpool did still manage to restore their six point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Now though, they will be focused on a Champions League clash with French side Lille on Tuesday night (21 January).
In other news, Liverpool have made a decision over potential transfer for Harvey Elliott.
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The post Keith Hackett: Liverpool robbed of penalty after Brentford incident appeared first on Football Insider.
