As Liverpool and Arne Slot preside over a fourth Premier League defeat in a row, a verdict on Virgil van Dijk's contentious penalty has been reached
Virgil van Dijk tackling Dango Ouattara on the edge of the penalty area
Virgil van Dijk's tackle on Dango Ouattara resulted in the decisive moment for Brentford against Liverpool
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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has insisted Virgil van Dijk did commit a penalty offence in Liverpool's defeat to Brentford.
Arne Slot's side suffered their fourth league loss in a row when they lost 3-2 away to the Bees. The crucial moment came in the 60th minute, when Van Dijk clipped the ankle of Dango Ouattara as the forward was moving out of the penalty area.
Initially, a free-kick was given to the west Londoners, but after a VAR review, they decided the contact was made on the line of the box and was therefore a penalty. Igor Thiago scored from the spot to put Brentford 3-1 ahead. Mohamed Salah's late goal which halved the deficit meant the controversial spot-kick was the crucial winning goal.
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While looking at the incident again on Sky Sports ref watch, Gallagher, a former top flight official himself, insisted the decision was correct. However, he did say it's the kind of call which can only be made with the assistance of VAR.
He said: "It’s a penalty which would only be given with VAR, there's no doubt about that. Tim Robinson gives a foul. VAR looks at it and it's on the line.
"The line is owned by the goalkeeper and it's part of the penalty area, because it's on the line and it defaults to a penalty. Without that, you would never see that with the naked eye."
Former Queens Park Rangers striker Jay Bothroyd, who was analysing the incident alongside Gallagher, believes Ouattara was trying to initiate contact and therefore a penalty. He said: "I think that's an example of cute play.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool makes contact with Dango Ouattara of Brentford on the edge of the penalty area resulting in a penalty being awarded during the Premier League match between Brentford and Liverpool at Gtech Community Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Brentford, England
The incident was deemed to be the correct decision
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"I think that is Ouattara there, he is going away from goal and Virgil gets to a point where he thinks he can win the ball. Django then toes the ball away before he can get there. It's cute play and by the letter of the law, it is a penalty, but I would look at that and say it is soft."
Gallagher added: "That's the luxury VAR has got. You can look from different angles, you can freeze frame.
"As I said, you would never give that with the naked eye, because you would be in so much doubt, you would default to free kick. You could not be certain it was in there."
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts, during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Sunderland, in London, Saturday, Oct 25, 2025
It has been a painful few weeks for Slot
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Slot was furious with the decision and could be seen arguing with the fourth official at the time. Also referring to a Liverpool penalty appeal the Reds did not get when Cody Gakpo was brought down in the Brentford penalty area, the Dutchman said: "If I say it was a soft penalty I hope you don’t say it’s an excuse, but it was a very soft penalty.
"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’s a penalty. That bad luck maybe counts if you play a game like we did today.
"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, maybe both are nothing but if I had to give one of the two penalties I’d give the one to Cody."