Following Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea in their English Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday, there was some controversy over a penalty which was not given to the Blues.
Trent Alexander-Arnold brought down Chelsea’s Jadon Sancho in the Liverpool box, as he stepped on the Blues’ player in an attempt to keep the ball.
The Chelsea players immediately called on referee John Brooks to investigate the incident, as the decision was sent upstairs to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Michael Oliver and Nicholas Hopton were the men in charge of VAR for the match, and decided to stick with Brooks’ decision of no penalty.
Hate to say it but Jadon Sancho sabotaged Chelsea in the first half.
— 𝐉![CDATA[]]>𝐄![CDATA[]]>𝐑![CDATA[]]>𝐑![CDATA[]]>𝐘 (@badboy_jerry) October 21, 2024
Hope he put this performance behind him and gives his all in our next match. pic.twitter.com/suAnWjx9Ew
Home crowd decision?
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca suggested that the home crowd may have influenced the decision.
"I didn't see anything in terms of decisions from the referee. The only thing I can say that sometimes in this stadium some decisions are for the noise of the crowd," Maresca told Sky Sports after the match.
"The only thing I can say is the referee is there to make decisions. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. Sometimes it is because of the noise [of the crowd], but overall I think they did OK.”
There were a number of controversial calls during the match, especially during the first 45 minutes.
Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo was fortunate to avoid being red carded after he pulled Liverpool’s Diogo Jota’s shirt near the halfway line. A similar incident a day prior saw Arsenal defender William Saliba’s sent off for the infringement.
Liverpool’s first goal also came through a penalty which Mohamed Salah converted, and then had another penalty awarded before VAR ruled against it.
Liverpool’s Curtis Jones was initially judged to have been fouled by Chelsea’s keeper Robert Sanchez. VAR, however, ruled that Sanchez made contact with the ball before he tripped Jones.