Mohamed Salah scored a late penalty as Liverpool beat Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon
Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu is shown a red card by Referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor.
New verdicts have been given on the red card and penalty in Liverpool's Premier League clash vs Burnley.
(Image: Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has backed the decision to award Liverpool a crucial stoppage-time penalty against Burnley. The Reds were given the chance to win the game from the spot in the fifth minute of added time, a chance that Mohamed Salah took.
The late winner ensured that Arne Slot’s men maintain their 100 percent winning record in the Premier League this season, despite not yet reaching their best in terms of performances. It also means that Liverpool continue to sit at the top of the table.
Following the game, Burnley boss Scott Parker was honest in his assessment of the penalty, which was awarded after a handball from Hannibal.
“It’s probably a penalty, the learning from it for us is that we probably need to train defenders to put their arms behind their back,” he said.
The decision by referee Michael Oliver was also backed by Gallagher.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, he said: "Definitely a penalty. He moves into the ball. His face showed exactly that he knew what he did."
Pundit Jay Boothroyd was also in agreement, saying: "Definitely a penalty. Hannibal should know better. No ifs or buts. There was no aggrievement from the Burnley players.”
The penalty wasn’t the only crucial refereeing decision during the match, as Burnley were reduced to 10 men in the 84th minute when Lesley Ugochukwu was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Florian Wirtz.
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Again, Gallagher backed the referee’s decision, saying: “Why make a challenge like this? This will always be a second yellow card!
“That's what the rules are. Sometimes the referees have to do what they don't like."
There was, however, a disagreement from Boothroyd. "I don't think he should be sent off for that. If that was his first challenge, then yes, it's a yellow card,” he added.
"But a second yellow? It's not enough. Wirtz has just come across his legs.
"I don't think that's a yellow card offence, in my opinion. I think that's really soft. Sometimes I want to see common sense."