![\"Liverpool](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_GettyImages-2242958001.jpg\")
Liverpool were denied a penalty against Brentford(Image: Marc Atkins\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nLiverpool were denied a penalty for a potential foul on Cody Gakpo during their 3-2 defeat to Brentford on Saturday and referee Simon Hooper’s decision has been backedLiverpool were denied a penalty against Brentford(Image: Marc Atkins\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Liverpool have been informed why the decision not to award them a penalty during their loss to Brentford was correct. The Reds suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Bees<\/a> in Saturday night’s Premier League<\/a> encounter, further damaging their pursuit of table-toppers Arsenal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arne Slot’s<\/a> squad have now last their last four league fixtures after earlier defeats to Crystal Palace<\/a>, Chelsea<\/a> and Manchester United<\/a>. Liverpool<\/a> currently sit seventh in the Premier League standings and will take on Palace in the Carabao Cup in their upcoming match.<\/p>\n The Reds were penalised following a VAR review which saw Virgil van Dijk adjudged to have fouled Dango Ouattara during the second period. Before half-time, Liverpool appealed for a penalty following a possible foul on Cody Gakpo<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Liverpool receive new Brentford penalty VAR verdict after ‘soft’ Arne Slot claim<\/a>READ MORE: Harvey Elliott’s reality check leaves Liverpool loanee on wrong side of historic list<\/a><\/p>\n Nevertheless, official Simon Hooper declined to award the spot kick and the decision on the pitch was upheld by VAR<\/a>. Former top-flight official Keith Hackett has now delivered his assessment of the call, arguing that Hooper and the video assistant made the right judgement.<\/p>\n \u201cReferee Simon Hooper was ideally positioned to detect if there was any contact to award a penalty kick,” Hackett told Football<\/a> Insider. \u201cFrankly, there is no clear evidence that there was actual contact and therefore without that evidence rightly VAR did not intervene.<\/p>\n “These decisions are so much more credible when the referee is in close proximity to play to judge accurately what has taken place. Without that clear evidence of contact, you would not award a penalty kick.\u201d<\/p>\n Slot was questioned about both penalty situations following Liverpool’s loss to Brentford, where he voiced his frustrations about the decisions. “If I say it was a soft penalty I hope you don\u2019t say it\u2019s an excuse, but it was a very soft penalty,” Slot said over the weekend.<\/p>\n “I don’t think the referee was thinking to give the penalty but then they checked it and if it’s given as a foul then it\u2019s a penalty. That bad luck maybe counts if you play a game like we did today.<\/p>\n “It’s a crucial moment just before the 2-0, there was a moment where Cody dribbled inside the box and they didn’t play the ball. I think if you show both situations to every referee in the world<\/a>, maybe both are nothing but if I had to give one of the two penalties I\u2019d give the one to Cody.”<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community <\/a>and receive your daily dose of Mirror<\/a> Football<\/a> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Simon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761614775_990_0_Brentford-v-Liverpool-Premier-League.jpg\")
Simon Hooper waved away Cody Gakpo’s plea for penalty(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759200973_279_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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