Liverpool handed fresh penalty verdict as Bournemouth controversy takes new twist
Former Professional Game Match Officials Limited boss Keith Hackett has explained why Bournemouth should have been awarded a penalty against Liverpool at the weekend. The Reds continued their impressive form at the Vitality Stadium as a brace from Mohamed Salah secured them a 2-0 victory.
However, the game was not without controversy. Lewis Cook was judged to have clipped the heels of Cody Gakpo inside the Bournemouth area, and from the resulting penalty, Salah fired his side ahead. Then, during the second half, the Cherries saw appeals for a spot kick waved away after Dango Ouattara’s cross hit Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Some Bournemouth supporters also felt Alexis Mac Allister could count himself lucky for not receiving a second yellow card just before he was replaced by Curtis Jones. But Hackett believes that the hosts should have been awarded a penalty as Alexander-Arnold had handled Ouattara’s cross.
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"For me, I thought this was a penalty kick," he told Football Insider. "He controlled the ball. The arm's stuck out; he's clearly made his body shape, his silhouette bigger, the ball strikes the area that's green in terms of handball, that's a penalty kick he got away with it. Where was VAR?"
Liverpool are back in action against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, and speaking after the win on the South Coast, Arne Slot said: "It was the game we expected. They are so intense; they keep running and keep fighting every second.
"I said before the game, we were 3-0 up at Anfield at half-time, and they kept going. We had to play at the top of our abilities and needed luck to win this game.
"They hit the bar or the post two times, and they were constantly trying to force things. They had other chances as well, and I don't think we actually controlled the game. It was an open and even game, which everyone has here, because all the teams struggle here."
