10 March 2024 , 19:21
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Liverpool were denied a last-second penalty against Manchester City because VAR Stuart Attwell felt Jeremy Doku's foot was in a 'reasonable position'.
Doku kicked Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister in the chest and thigh as City attempted to clear the ball following a corner. The Belgian had got a slight touch on the ball before kicking Mac Allister.
But it had appeared as if Attwell would at least send Michael Oliver to the pitchside monitor after the referee waved away Liverpool's claims for a spot-kick. That did not happen though, with Attwell confirming the check was complete.
According to Sky Sports, the official reason was because Attwell viewed that Doku's foot was in a 'reasonable position' as he attempted to clear the ball. That decision drew raised eyebrows from former top official Mike Dean however.
"I think he's touched the ball Doku but with the follow through he's caught him right in the chest. I think it could be a penalty. It's a massive decision by the VAR. Tiny touch on the ball, but the follow through's caught him on the ribcage," Dean told Sky Sports.
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"I wouldn't be surprised if Stuart sent him to the screen. Check's complete. Obviously played the ball first and the follow through same as I'm guessing a normal coming together. He's very, very fortunate in my opinion there Doku."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confronted Oliver after the final whistle, later confirming he was discussing the Doku incident. And the German insisted that his side should have had a penalty, which would have won them the game if it had been scored.
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Mike Dean insisted that Doku was fortunate to escape punishment"Maybe you can ask him, but our opinions aren’t important. Would you have given the penalty in that situation? Isn’t it [VAR] there for just making the right decision and not thinking about how high the bar is to overturn a decision?" Klopp told Sky Sports.
"Anywhere else on the pitch that is a 100% foul, and it’s a yellow card. He hits the ball, and only because his foot is up here, he kicks him. You will find people, like Mike Dean, is he working for Sky?
"Great appointment by the way but he and others will find something and all the others as well. It’s a penalty for all football people on the planet, if you don’t think so, maybe you’re not a football person."
While Klopp and Dean were adamant a penalty should have been awarded, Roy Keane backed Attwell's decision. While Keane conceded the Liverpool boss did have a point, he insisted there was no force in Doku's challenge.
Keane told Sky Sports: "I think Klopp makes a good point about how high his foot is, he does get the ball and there’s no force in there at all. I think the officials get the decision right."
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