Richard Keys insists Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty after Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson handed the ball in the box.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge yesterday after Axel Disasi cancelled out Luis Diaz’s opener, and while the visitors felt they should have had a penalty in the second half, VAR did not award it, and Keys feels it was the wrong call.
“Liverpool were unlucky as well,” the former Sky Sports pundit wrote in his column.
“That was handball by Jackson. That’s a pen all over Europe – but not in the PL.
“Why are our decisions always at odds with everyone else’s?”
However, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher does not agree, insisting the Chelsea forward could not have been penalised as Diaz deflected the ball towards his arm with his header.
Correct decision ✅
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says the right call was made on the Nicolas Jackson handball incident against Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/3LgOYc6jqd
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 14, 2023
Another former official might disagree with Gallagher as penalty calls are arguably the most controversial decisions in a football match, and everyone has a different opinion about whether one should be given or not after any incident.
Chelsea were the better side yesterday and manager Mauricio Pochettino would not have been very pleased with the result as the Argentine would have hoped to start life as the Blues manager on a winning note.
Liverpool found themselves 2-0 up only for VAR to chalk off their goal, with the hosts equalising minutes later and going 2-1 up, only to also see VAR intervene.
Chelsea return to action on Sunday with a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United, while the Reds play Bournemouth on Saturday at Anfield, and both clubs will be looking forward to picking up their first victory of the new campaign.
Both teams had a season to forget last term, with the Blues missing out entirely on Europe after finishing 12th, while Liverpool could only clinch a spot in the Europa League group stages after finishing fifth.
