There was controversy in the Southampton vs Liverpool on Sunday as major questions were asked surrounding the awarding of the Saints’ penalty.
The Reds came into the match at St Mary’s looking to put eight points between themselves and Man City at the top of the Premier League after Pep Guardiola’s team suffered a shock 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s men have made an incredible start to the 2024/25 campaign and that continued during the opening 30 minutes of their clash with Southampton as Dominik Szoboszlai produced a beautiful finish to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.
That would not last very long as Southampton would find an equaliser just 12 minutes later. The Saints’ goal came in controversial fashion as there were a lot of questions about the awarding of the penalty
Andy Robertson –who has been in worrying form this term– brought down Tyler Dibling as the youngster ran towards the Liverpool box and it resulted in referee Samuel Barrott pointing towards the spot.
Upon closer inspection, it looked like the contact was outside of the box but the VAR team could not see enough evidence to overturn the onfield decision.
The evidence seems pretty clear, which has left many fans and pundits questioning the controversial decision.
This challenge by Andy Robertson was given as a penalty for Southampton vs. Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/A3eh8vtmlR
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 24, 2024
Controversial decision could have cost Liverpool the Premier League title
Southampton would go on to take the lead in the match early in the second half before the Reds would make it 3-2 following a Mohamed Salah double Although the decision didn’t cost Slot’s team points in the end, it could have been vital at the end of the season if the Premier League title race is very tight and it is more evidence that the officiating in England’s top flight needs improving.
It seems that the VAR teams are afraid to overturn on-field decisions and although that should take precedence, situations like this are very clear and the man in the middle should be told to have a second look at his call.
This comes after a bad few weeks for the PGMOL and it will be interesting to see further reaction to this controversial decision.
Referees should have to attend refresher training during the off-season. They could use the many instances during the season and have referees discuss them. This would ensure they maintain their skill set and understand the deeper impacts their often inept choices lead too
Nothing like refresher training, they know what they are doing. England referee are too corrupt. They give the tittle to who ever they like.
Correct
I don’t even think it was a foul to begin with. Robertson blocked the player and the player ran into him. He didn’t stick his leg out to trip him up. But to give a penalty when it was clearly outside of the area is pathetic. But it was Michael Oliver on VAR so nobody is surprised.
And we in South Africa thought our referees are bad, pgmol are the worst leading to suspicions of corruption and subjectivity proven by David
I suspect that VAR is attempting to make up for the dreadful decisions against Southampton this season
Utter rubbish, clear penalty and Southampton should have had another one for Kanoutes push in Archer’s back.
Who ??
🤣
Pl is so unfortunate that it has incompetent referees.This is the worst group of referees ever in England.There is no way for penality to be awarded for incident that occurs outside the box like the one against LFC.It is evident that referees are fans of clubs.Be that as it may referees should show professionalism and ethics.
Really….
Referee should have been told to view the tackle on the monitor
Haha brilliant, not even April , the other 3 penalty claims where also very wrong. Southampton could be looking at FA sanctions after Armstrong made a penalty claim in the first 10 minutes, VAR correctly seeing that it was only a “small push”. The foul on the keeper by Armstrong was worse, the keeper was honestly sliding through to avoid the other two players that were hold the Southampton forward. In truth Konaté was unlucky not be be awarded a penalty himself as Cameron Archer seemed to make him lay on top of him in the Liverpool 6 yard box preventing him from touching the ball at all.
Thankfully justice was done. Liverpool won the league and Southampton , Ipswich and Wolves went down with few enough points that Man City’s points deduction only resulted in an effective 1 year European ban.
Klopp already said it, the English referees are a disgrace. They make English premier league boring due to their horrendous urge for money. Bribe is what they easily accept from some teams they always feel should win trophies always, the Saudi money is what they whistle for. Oliver, see what he did on VAR today and Anthony are worse than David coote and COVID-19, but our good Lord will fight for us this season. Why do you people hate Liverpool so badly like this??
England has the most corrupt set of referees in the world. I thought Africa is the worst – as almighty BBC and CNN will paint it to be but England is the most corrupt. I watched that Liverpool penalty. It hits the body first before the hands. If you reverse it to be Southampton, the referees can never award it! Neither will they award such to Arsenal too. It seems they have already concluded that Liverpool will be the champions.
absolutely true