Liverpool fans couldn’t believe they were not awarded a penalty during their 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town and now an expert has offered his view
Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty during their 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town – that’s the view of former Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Keith Hackett. The Reds secured their first Premier League win of the season when Alexander Isak scored twice in the opening 10 minutes at Portman Road. However, Hackett believes the Reds were denied a ‘nailed-on’ spot-kick when Abdul Fatawu took out Cody Gakpo inside the box during the first-half.
“This is a nailed-on penalty kick decision,” he told Football Insider. “The Ipswich player is so late with his foul challenge that I cannot believe that the referee has not pointed to the penalty mark.
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“I understand that the PROref organisation want to see less interference by VAR. However, this non-award of a penalty kick by the referee meets the criteria for a clear and obvious error. VAR should have intervened.”
The baffling decision follows Liverpool being punished in fashion for a similar incident last weekend, when Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker was controversially adjudged to have brought down Nico Williams during a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Liam Delap’s quick throw-in caught the Reds cold and the goalkeeper rushed out to Williams, who went down after lifting the ball over the Liverpool keeper and wide of the mark. However, referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot and Morgan Gibbs-White converted the spot-kick.
Reacting to the victory over Ipswich, Reds boss Andoni Iraola said: “Yes, very pleased with the win, obviously.
“We needed this win and as well with the performance – especially [in the] first half we have been a very good team. We put a lot of pressure to the opposition and I think we started really strong in the game.
“I think that we learned, probably, the lessons from the last two games where we conceded early goals and today we didn’t want this to happen, and we were really strong in the first half. On Isak, Iraola added: “Yes, with Alex, if he’s fit, if he’s available, if he’s in good shape, I think he will produce the numbers. My demands with Alex will not be about the goals, probably. “It will be about other things, I will demand other things so we can play well and if we play well, we are in good positions, the goals will come. I think he has to contribute to the collective and when everyone helps, I think after the goals and the other stuff will come.”