Liverpool issued fresh penalty verdict after furious Unai Emery response

Dermot Gallagher believes David Coote should have let play continue after Aston Villa's complaints that Ollie Watkins was fouled against Liverpool. The incident occurred moments after the Reds broke the deadlock as the England international and Ibrahima Konate tangled.

Villa fans were incensed by the decision to award Liverpool a free-kick with the striker looking equally surprised by the passage of play going against him. Unai Emery's side would go on to have two further appeals in the penalty area that were waved away, both from defender Pau Torres for an alleged shirt pull and prior to Liverpool's second.

Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah were on target to send the Reds five points clear at the top of the Premier League. The result sees Arne Slot's men sit at the summit for another international break as top-flight football goes on hold for the final time this calendar year.

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Gallagher took a diplomatic approach to the decision and admitted that Coote added a fourth option to his list for refereeing decisions. He told Sky Sports: "I learned something Saturday on this decision, I always think there's three decisions to make, penalty, dive or do nothing.

"The referee created a fourth one because he gave a foul against Watkins, I think do nothing was the best option. Just leave it." Defender Stephen Warnock, who played for both clubs, added: "I was surprised that the whistle went, it was a coming together between two players."

Emery wasn't under the same impression as he felt his side were denied a "clear penalty" during the 2-0 defeat. In particular, Conor Bradley's tug on Torres from a free-kick, arguing: "With the VAR, the action of Ollie Watkins and Pau Torres, for me it was clearly a penalty because they pull the shirt of Pau Torres.

"I know in Europe this is a penalty but here in England, they won’t use VAR. In this situation it was clear but I’m always respecting the decision of VAR and accepting it.

"But for me, with VAR it is a clear penalty and it was a very important, key moment in the game because if we shot the penalty, maybe the match is different. I am accepting the result and referee’s decision. I don’t agree."