Liverpool were on the receiving end of a VAR decision in their draw vs Leeds United – with a penalty awarded to the home side after a challenge from Ibrahima Konate.
Ibrahima Konate gave away a controversial penalty against Leeds United
Liverpool have been informed VAR made the correct call in awarding a penalty against them during their Premier League draw vs Leeds United, despite queries surrounding how “clear and obvious” the decision reversal actually was. That flashpoint occurred in a match where the Reds fell apart against Leeds United, a concerning trend which has emerged under Arne Slot this season.
It has required merely a basic swing in momentum for the champions to find themselves under a level of pressure, which was undoubtedly evident at Elland Road. Following a dominant two-goal advantage, a penalty decision shifted the game in Leeds’ favour when Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate lunged in for an unnecessary challenge on Wilfried Gnonto as it seemed the ball was heading out of play.
While no penalty was awarded on the pitch, the referee was prompted to reverse his call, handing a spot-kick to the Whites. Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted it with ease.
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That sparked a fightback, but doubts still remain about whether the penalty ought to have been awarded, initially, with uncertainty over the ball remaining in play.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb addressed the incident on Match Officials Mic’d Up. He said: “When I look at the video, for me, it’s a clear penalty.
“What’s really important here is that when the contact is made by Konate on Gnonto, Konate doesn’t play the ball, he makes the contact, he takes Gnonto down. Really importantly on this is the ball is still in play at that moment.
“And you’ll hear on the comms, Anthony Taylor the referee, saying the ball is already out of play and that’s important of course. Because if the ball is out of play when that contact happens, it can’t be a penalty kick.
“So, VAR looks at it, is able to slow it right down, break it down and see, when does the contact happen? How does that relate to where the ball was at that time?
Ibrahima Konate gave away a much-talked-about penalty vs Leeds.(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
“It was still in play, it’s a clear foul, and therefore the intervention by the VAR in this situation is a good one. It demonstrates the real value of having VAR to rectify what was a clear and obvious error made on the field.”
Ultimately, it appears the correct decision was reached, although Slot disagreed with that call when speaking with the media during his post-match press conference.
“A VAR intervention that leads to a penalty,” said Slot. “The first chance they had, which was for 2-2 because for 2-1 wasn’t a chance. I think the ball is already out, there was contact, so he gave a penalty.”
In the end, it proved a pivotal moment in the contest, with Leeds drawing level shortly after converting from the spot, as part of a frantic match. While Dominik Szoboszlai looked to have secured the victory, late on, a goal from Ao Tanaka goal subjected Liverpool to yet another deflating collapse on their travels.
It marked another bruising fixture in a campaign riddled with challenging moments – with Mohamed Salah’s post-match outburst only adding to mounting worries at Anfield.
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