Liverpool will have felt a little hard done by against Real Madrid.
The Reds have not been in the best run of form in recent weeks but their performance in the Champions League showed huge signs of improvement.
It was a hard fought game, however, that could have been a lot simpler, especially as Liverpool had some good chances early into the match.
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They thought they were going to get the most simple opportunity possible just after the half an hour mark as it looked like they were going to get a penalty, even if the referee had given a free-kick at first.
However, after review, he then changed his mind, something former referee Mark Clattenburg said he disagreed with.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool takes a shot which strikes the hand of Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid resulting in a free kick during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Mark Clattenburg thinks Liverpool should have had a penalty
Liverpool were having a good moment in the game during the build-up to this controversial decision, with the Reds starting to take more shots at goal.
But when Dominik Szoboszlai aimed one towards Thibaut Courtois, it was blocked by the hand of Aurelien Tchouameni, with the referee giving a free-kick at first glance.
However, it was clear it was in the box after review, although he changed his mind and said it was not handball after all, something Clattenburg could not believe.
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“Normally the VAR would just tell him over the headset it’s a penalty kick as it’s factual, so it’s interesting that he is going to have a second opinion,” he said on Amazon Prime Video.
“Because the referee has given a handball, and I think it is a handball because he’s made his body bigger, so I agree with his initial decision of handball, but once it is handball, he then needs to decide if it’s in the area.
“What he is now saying is that It isn’t handball as he doesn’t believe that the defender made his body bigger because you can clearly see the ball touching the hand.
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“That is why VAR recommend the review seeing that the decision was wrong to give the handball. I disagree, I think it’s a handball.”
Jonathan Woodgate thinks it was the right decision
When watching it back, it did seem rather harsh to give that decision as a handball, although it is clear that it still hit his hand.
As well as this, the fact it was not clear and obvious may leave Reds fans a little unhappy, although former Madrid player Jonathan Woodgate believes the referee made the right choice.
“I don’t know what Aurelien Tchouameni can do with his arms! I don’t get the decision if it’s a penalty,” he said as per BBC Sport.
“Common sense has to prevail, surely.”
Whether it was right or wrong will be up for debate for a while, but either way, the Reds cannot rely on decisions like this anyway, and they didn’t anyway after an excellent win.