20 April 2023 , 15:23
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Former Sky Sports anchor Richard Keys has claimed the PGMOL have admitted Liverpool ’s opening goal vs Leeds should have been disallowed.
The Reds ran out handsome 6-1 winners at Elland Road, but the first of their six goals came with more than a tinge of controversy. Cody Gakpo ’s tap-in came after Trent Alexander-Arnold charged down Junior Firpo, winning the ball back and in turn crossing for his teammate to open the scoring.
Replays showed the ball hit Alexander-Arnold’s arm, with Leeds players strongly protesting the goal should be disallowed. However, both the on-field referee and the VAR decided the goal should stand.
But Keys, who now hosts beIN Sport’s coverage of the top flight, has suggested that the body responsible for refereeing games have informed Leeds that the decision was wrong. “Sources tell me that PGMOL have told Leeds that the Alexander-Arnold goal should not have stood. It was handball.”
Brentford defender Ben Mee, working as a pundit on Monday Night Football, said of the incident: “On the replay he moves his arm and I do think it was a handball, movement to the ball is handball.”
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Kop legend Jamie Carragher offered a less emphatic version of events, adding: “There is doubt, for me when it hits him it looks like his hand is sitting out, he got himself ready and his arm is in the position as if the ball might hit you.
Replays showed the ball hit Trent Alexander-Arnold on the arm (Sky Sports)
Cody Gakpo's goal was allowed to stand“Look at his arm, slightly in position, no doubt it moves out, whether because the ball is there or naturally where arm was going to go, it could have gone either way, no doubt about that.”
Leeds boss Javi Gracia refused to use the controversy as any kind of excuse following a damaging defeat which only heightened their relegation fears. “Maybe the first one (goal) is coming from a handball but it doesn’t matter because, after that, we conceded many chances,” he admitted.
The incident comes as the PGMOL insists that there has been a marked improvement in correct decisions being made since the World Cup break. According to the study, there were just four incorrect interventions between rounds 17 and 30.
PGMOL claim there have been significant improvements to VAR in the second half of the season (PA)The report was created by an independent key match incidents panel, made up of three former players or coaches as well as representatives from the Premier League and PGMOL.
The panel sits every week and have found that since the World Cup there has been one incorrect intervention every 37.5 games. That compares to an incorrect intervention once every 24.3 matches, or six in total.
It’s a report which will be cynically viewed by plenty of Premier League supporters, on the back of several glaring errors. Brighton were earlier this month issued an apology after their defeat at Tottenham, while Nottingham Forest were aggrieved to not get a spot-kick against Manchester United.
Wolves have also received multiple apologies since the turn of the year, with Julen Lopetegui holding a face-to-face meeting with Webb back in January.