Former referee Dermot Gallagher has backed Liverpool's penalty appeal after Hugo Ekitike was pulled back by Jaka Bijol during their goalless draw with Leeds at Anfield
Hannah Pinnock
17:31, 03 Jan 2026
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has offered his opinion
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has offered his opinion(Image: Sky Sports)
Liverpool has received a fresh referee assessment regarding the contentious penalty incident involving Hugo Ekitike during the stalemate with Leeds.
The Reds stretched their unbeaten streak to eight matches on New Year's Day, but they were frustrated to a second draw of the season against Daniel Farke's outfit, following December's thrilling 3-3 encounter at Elland Road.
On this occasion, there was little excitement, with a rather fragmented performance that offered scant reassurance that the team had moved beyond its recent struggles. Nevertheless, one moment in the opening period at Anfield drew considerable attention, as Arne Slot's players were refused a penalty despite what appeared to be a clear foul on Ekitike inside the area.
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The French forward was tugged by Leeds defender Jaka Bijol, but he remained upright, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to dismiss appeals for a spot kick.
During Sky Sports' Ref Watch programme on Friday, former referee Dermot Gallagher delivered his assessment of the incident and maintained that Liverpool ought to have been granted a penalty.
He acknowledged that the outcome would likely have differed had Ekitike fallen to the turf. "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.
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool during the Premier League match against Leeds
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool during the Premier League match against Leeds(Image: Getty Images)
"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."
Joining Gallagher on Ref Watch was ex-player Jay Bothroyd, who concurred with the view that Ekitike had essentially been punished for his honesty in that situation.
"I completely agree," the former professional chimed in.
"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."
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The stalemate against Leeds ensures Liverpool maintains its position in the top four. However, there's a palpable sense of a squandered chance for the Reds to bolster their position in the race for Champions League soccer.
This feeling is amplified by the fact that they now face a challenging series of Premier League matches. This Sunday, they're off to Fulham, a team that has historically given Liverpool a tough time.
Next week, the Reds are off to face Arsenal, a team that recently trounced Aston Villa 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Slot's players may have just scraped past the Gunners at Anfield earlier in the season, but that was before their form took a noticeable nosedive.