Liverpool and Hugo Ekitike were controversially denied a penalty in their goalless draw against Leeds United at Anfield on Thursday evening
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool during the Premier League match against Leeds United
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool during the Premier League match against Leeds United
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Liverpool have been handed a new referee verdict on the potential penalty incident involving Hugo Ekitike from their goalless draw against Leeds United.
The Reds extended their unbeaten run to eight games but were held to a second draw against Daniel Farke's side on Thursday evening, following the 3-3 thriller at Elland Road at the start of December. This time around, there was no such drama, instead a rather disjointed display that did little to instil confidence that the team are past the blip which plagued the earlier months of the season.
There was, however, one incident in the first half at Anfield that caught the attention, as Arne Slot's side were denied a penalty despite an apparent foul on Ekitike in the box. The Frenchman was pulled by Leeds defender Jaka Bijol but stayed on his feet, meaning referee Chris Kavanagh waved away calls for a spot kick.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch on Friday, former official Dermot Gallagher issued his verdict on the incident and insisted Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty. He admitted it likely would have been a different outcome had Ekitike gone to ground.
"I watched this live and looked at it and thought, 'this is exactly why players go down,' because in my view, if Ekitike goes down, i think not only a penalty, but Bijol is sent off because he has grabbed him and grabbed him and grabbed him," Gallagher explained.
"But he stays on his feet and gets a shot away and that makes it a much more difficult decision for the referee, but if he hits the ground, the whole landscape changes."
Hugo Ekitike was arguably unfairly challenged by Jaka Bijol of Leeds United
Hugo Ekitike was arguably unfairly challenged by Jaka Bijol of Leeds United
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Gallagher was joined on Ref Watch by former player Jay Bothroyd, who agreed with the sentiment that Ekitike had effectively been penalised for his honesty in that situation. "I completely agree," the former pro added.
"You do not get rewarded for honesty and that is the problem, and because players are not getting rewarded, like Ekitike there, who is trying to be strong and stay on his feet, I would be telling him, 'If that happens again, fall on the floor and go down,' as that way you are asking the officials to make a decision.
"And everyone knows it is a foul, they got away with it and it would have been a red card as he stopped a goalscoring opportunity."
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool is challenged by Anton Stach and James Justin (obscured) of Leeds United during the Premier League match
Hugo Ekitike was denied a penalty in the draw against Leeds United(Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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The draw against Leeds means Liverpool retain their place in the top four, with nearest challengers Chelsea also held by Bournemouth earlier in the week. That said, there is a definite sense of a missed opportunity for the Reds to strengthen their hand in the battle for Champions League football.
Not least because they now face a tricky run of Premier League fixtures. This Sunday, they travel away to Fulham, who have long proven to be difficult opposition for Liverpool.
Then next week, they head to Premier League leaders Arsenal, who recently dismantled title challengers Aston Villa 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Slot's men may have narrowly edged the Gunners at Anfield earlier in the campaign, but that came long before their form took a significant downturn.