Joe Cole says Crystal Palace were denied a ‘nailed-on penalty’ against Liverpool even though VAR claimed Virgil van Dijk’s grab on Marc Guehi ‘had no impact on the play’
Ex-Liverpool star Joe Cole believes his former side were lucky not to concede a penalty in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk appeared to grab Marc Guehi’s arm as the Palace defender tried to get on the end of a Trevoh Chalobah move after a corner.
But referee Simon Hooper did not point to the spot before VAR confirmed his decision.
The Premier League Match Center later explained why VAR felt it was not a penalty.
An official tweet read: ‘The referee’s decision not to award a penalty for Van Dijk’s challenge on Guehi is checked and confirmed by VAR – on the basis that the challenge did not stand and had no impact on the game.’
Liverpool No. 4 Virgil van Dijk pictured holding the arm of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi
No. 6 Guehi fell to the ground under Van Dijk’s challenge as goalkeeper Alisson punched the ball away
Referee Simon Hooper did not award a penalty before VAR agreed with his decision
However, Cole disagreed, telling TNT Sports: “If Chalobah knocks him to the ground, it could have very easily fallen on him. He grabbed him by the arm and stopped him.
‘I like reactions from players. Marc Guehi is not one to demand anything, but he really felt it was a punishment.
‘That tells me it was a penalty. I think they got away with it.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked about the incident in his post-game interview with TNT Sports.
Slot initially replied: ‘I don’t know. I haven’t seen it.
“It’s happening quite far away, and in the 18-meter area a lot of things are happening.”
However, former Liverpool player Joe Cole disagreed, describing it as a ‘tacky penalty’.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Arne Slot felt the referees had made the right decision
After being shown a replay, Slot added: ‘Yes, but the ball goes to the goalkeeper. He would never go there, but hey, if he had given this one he probably wouldn’t have changed it through VAR.
‘But for me that’s not a penalty, because he will never get the ball. But overall I don’t think Palace fans can be unhappy with the referee today because I think it took 55 minutes before we got our first free-kick.
‘There were fifteen for us and two for them. We had 78 percent ball possession. But it’s an important decision, that’s why we’re talking about it.”