'Little tug': Alan Shearer says whether he thinks Palace deserved a penalty for Virgil van Dijk foul

Today at 05:15 AM

Against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Liverpool delivered another controlled display away from home, maintaining their 100 per cent record on the road. 

Arne Slot's Liverpool side were once again driven forward by Ryan Gravenberch in the middle, who found it too easy against Palace's midfield in south London.

Gravenberch continues to benefit from Liverpool missing out on Martin Zubimendi this summer, a player who has taken his chance with both hands.

That being said, the midfielder wasn't the best Dutchman on the pitch for the away team, a crown worn by Virgil van Dijk at full-time.

Van Dijk played with so much authority at the back and was then also distributing the ball superbly, a proper all-round display.

However, many felt as if Van Dijk did make one poor decision late on which should have led to a penalty for the home side. 

Marc Guehi told he didn’t deserve a penalty late-on against Liverpool

In the 71st minute of the game, Palace captain Marc Guehi attempted to get on the end of a clever flick on by Trevor Chalobah at the back post, only to be pulled back by Van Dijk.

Alan Shearer shared his interpretation of the incident during Match of the Day, saying it was an incredibly close call.

READ MORE: Liverpool boss Arne Slot shares when he thinks Alisson could return from injury

Either way, the pundit felt as if the decision wouldn't have been overturned by VAR, and he eventually concluded that there wasn't quite enough to award a penalty in the first place.

Shearer said: "I think it was one of those where if the referees gives it, then it's not getting overturned.

"There's definitely a little tug there. Whether it's enough to give a penalty, I am not quite sure. I don't think there's enough, no."

Of course, many of a Palace persuasion may imagine that Shearer would have felt incredibly hard done by in his playing days were he brought down in such fashion.

VAR explain decision not to award Crystal Palace a penalty

As expected, VAR did check Van Dijk's challenge on Guehi but decided that there wasn't sufficient need to send the referee to the monitor at Selhurst Park.

Sharing their explanation on X, they said: "The referee's call of no penalty for the challenge by van Dijk on Guéhi is checked and confirmed by VAR – deeming that the challenge was not sustained holding and had no impact on the play."

Of course, the 'no impact on the play' might not sit too well with Palace fans considering Guehi looked determined to score.

But perhaps VAR felt as if Alisson Becker would have collected the ball regardless.

Whether that should be factored into the decision is another debate in itself, and even if Shearer did agree with the call, it still seems as if Palace were hard done by.