Inside Elland Road: Japanese fan, Farke’s great week, enjoying moments.mp4
Leeds United were reliant on a VAR review to get them back in the game against Liverpool.
Referee’s chief Howard Webb has praised the use of VAR to help award Leeds United a crucial penalty against Liverpool earlier this month.
Leeds were 2-0 down at the time, having conceded twice in the opening five minutes of the second-half, but were given a lifeline when Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate fouled Willy Gnonto. The Italian, introduced just a few minutes before, darted into the box before being brought down with a sliding challenge.
Referee Anthony Taylor initially waved away claims for a penalty and in the latest episode of Match Officials Mic'd Up, discussions between himself and other officials have been released. In the clip, Taylor can be heard saying ‘not for me, the ball is out of play’.
Having seen the ball was actually still in play when Konate made contact with Gnonto, VAR assistant John Brooks recommended an on-field review. And after looking at the challenge from multiple different angles Taylor overturned his own decision to award the spot kick.
“When I look at the video, for me it’s a clear penalty,” Webb told Match Officials Mic'd Up. “What, for me, is really important is that when the contact is made by Konate on Gnonto, Konate doesn’t play the ball, he makes the contact and he takes Gnonto down. Importantly, the ball is still in play at that moment.
“You hear on the comms, Anthony Taylor saying ‘the ball is already out of play’. That’s important because if the ball is out of play when that contact happens, it can’t be a penalty. VAR looks at it, is able to slow it down, and sees when does the contact happen? How does that relate to where the ball is at that period of time?
“It’s still in play, it’s a clear foul and therefore the intervention by VAR on this one is a good one. It demonstrates the real value of having VAR to rectify what was a clear and obvious error.”
Penalty decision a crucial moment in Leeds United draw
Dominic Calvert-Lewin buried the penalty confidently and minutes later, Leeds drew level through Anton Stach. Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool back ahead but there was time for one final twist, with Ao Tanaka making it 3-3 deep into second-half added-time.
It remains to be seen how that game would have panned out, had Taylor’s initial decision of no penalty stood. The momentum from that goal gave Leeds fresh impetus and got Elland Road rocking, which clearly affected a fragile and out-of-form Liverpool side.
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Speaking in the immediate aftermath of full-time, second goalscorer Stach admitted the penalty was a big moment in helping Leeds get back into the game. He said: “100 per cent [the penalty helped]. Before it was tough, Liverpool had amazing quality on the ball and we suffered a lot.
“The two goals after half-time were too late but it's a big strength of ours that we come back against the champions of last year and take a point. Of course it was because of the atmosphere after the penalty.
“I think of course you are tired, 2-0 down against such good opposition but you score and when the crowd is so loud and in your head there's a switch and then you can run more and go into the duels with everybody with you. It's the whole city.”
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