Arsenal vs Liverpool

A former Premier League referee has explained why Arsenal were awarded a penalty and noted the two issues that Michael Oliver and VAR faced when making a ...

Gabriel Magalhaes, who was in close proximity to Diogo Jota, was seen handling the ball inside his own penalty area, denying the Liverpool forward from delivering a cross into the box. [Klopp was furious with the decision](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/jurgen-klopp-arsenal-penalty-var-25218856) which ultimately cost his side a point. We know in life if two refs think the same that is the truth we have to live with. "Michael [Oliver] will say in my view he hasn’t got the ball - which he hasn’t - in my opinion, he’s touched the player and made the contact which he has. "The problem is when it’s thrown to the VAR," the former top-flight referee added. Without doubt he doesn’t play the ball and there is contact but is it enough to give a penalty?

The Football Association is expected to interview all players involved in a flare-up between Arsenal and Liverpool players in Sunday's match at the Emirates ...

Gabriel is understood to be insisting he heard something on the pitch. A lip reader is likely to be employed to try to support the complaint as has happened in previous cases. Oliver also spoke to the managers, Jürgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta, after the match and has submitted a report to the FA.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher expected Liverpool to be awarded a penalty by VAR against Arsenal after the ball was handled by Gabriel ...

There’s no evidence to say the referee hasn’t made the correct decision so the VAR should stay out, so it will always default to the referee’s decision." Martinelli crosses the ball, it’s just unfortunate in football, there is physical contact that you don’t anticipate and this is one of those cases. When I saw it I expected VAR to overturn it but they felt it was too close that’s why it wasn’t given." But that incident was also scrutinised by Gallagher who explained why Oliver's decision was unlikely to have gone to a VAR review. Gallagher said: "The minute I saw it, his arm was high, I expected it to be given, I did say I was surprised the Arsenal one wasn’t given. Gallagher said: "I think it raises two issues. Referee Michael Oliver failed to award a spot-kick, and when the incident went to a VAR review, his original decision was upheld. The directive is if the arm is shoulder high or above it’s given, I never thought for second it wouldn’t be penalised. I think not. When I saw the replay of the Gabriel one, I anticipated the VAR would recommend a review, I think he only thought it was too close and if he didn’t recommend it, the referee can’t go to the screen." He said: "All I can think is the referee and the VAR referee thought it was too close in proximity. Without doubt he doesn’t play the ball and there is contact but is it enough to give a penalty?

Liverpool was dangerous but too open at the back as Arsenal attacked Trent Alexander-Arnold and the Reds' recently-maligned right side.

Hello and welcome to a beautiful early fall day here at the Emirates! Injuries have made things rather difficult for Jurgen Klopp, but the impending returns of Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson are good cause for optimism as Liverpool try to reverse course and keep within touching distance of the top of the table. He is back on and is going to try and run it off. “1-0 to the Arsenal” is the chant here. “Thank you so much to the boys and the supporters. Gabriel’s mistake for the first goal and Saliba being caught out of position for Liverpool’s second proved that Arsenal still have a mistake in them. I saw a team with the right attitude and put in a proper fight and play football and first half we did but in the second half I didn’t see these football moments as much. Their direct running scared the heck out of Liverpool and Martinelli racing free and having the composure to cut inside and find Saka to slot home was a beautiful illustration of their industry and quality. “Arsenal are doing really well and in the situation I think we played a good game. Tottenham didn’t make the most of dragging Saliba and particularly Gabriel out of position on the counter last weekend. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan are together in the “group of death,” while Tottenham were handed a (relatively) easy draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting CP and Marseille in Group D. When they didn’t they were overrun in midfield and the topsy-turvy nature of this clash reminded me of when Klopp first arrived in 2015 and his high-octane, heavy-metal football was exciting to watch but Liverpool had no balance (especially defensively) whatsoever.