Former FIFA referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has given his verdict on the decision not to send Marc Guehi off for denying Mohamed Salah a goalscoring opportunity in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat against Manchester City.
Although neither side could break the deadlock in the first half, the hosts believed they should have been given an advantage when the England international pulled Salah back outside the box as he raced through on goal. VAR reviewed the on-field decision, agreeing that a booking was the only punishment required.
It seemed as though that decision would not matter in the end when Dominik Szoboszlai struck a sweet free-kick past Gianluigi Donnarumma for a late opener. But Bernardo Silva's equaliser and Erling Haaland's penalty ultimately led to a famous comeback victory for Pep Guardiola's side.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot before facing Barnsley in the FA Cup. Related
'The Word From Liverpool Is' - Arne Slot Sack Update Emerges After Man City Defeat
It's another disappointing result for Liverpool.
Slot Calls Out Referee's Decision Not to Send Guehi Off
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
In the end, the biggest drama of the match came at the end of the game as City had a third goal ruled out for fouls made by Haaland and Szoboszlai, which led to the latter being sent off. But that didn't stop Slot from voicing his frustration with the earlier decision concerning Guehi and Salah after the final whistle.
The Dutch manager, when asked if his side had been wronged during the game, said: "We can talk about every incident and everybody has an opinion about this. That's the difficulty in football, there are never 100 to nil decisions.
"If I had to talk about one moment, I would like to talk about the time Mo [Salah] was through on goal and Guehi held his shirt.
"Everyone who has been in this stadium for the past eight years knows that if Mo Salah comes in that situation, it's a goal. So that is definitely a goalscoring opportunity.
"Maybe that is an 80/20 split, we can find 20 people from the PGMOL who don't think it's a red card. But I think in general everyone who looks at it will tell you that should have been a red card."
Check Out Slot's Comments Below:
Hackett Gives View on Decision to Show Guehi a Yellow Card
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah react after referee Craig Pawson awards a penalty to Manchester City
The Premier League's Match Centre had explained the referee's decision on social media, indicating that a covering defender meant that it was not a DOGSO offence. They stated: "The referee’s call of a free-kick and yellow card to Guehi for the challenge on Salah was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge outside of the area and deemed not to be denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) as there was a covering defender.
And while Slot might feel as though Guehi deserved to receive his marching orders for the offence, Hackett ultimately reached the same conclusion that the officials did. Speaking to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief believes that a defender's presence in the area meant that it wasn't an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
"Yellow card the correct decision. Does not fulfil denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity due to the position of the covering defender."
Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports as a pundit, also believes the correct decision was reached. He said: "I think it was the right decision.
"It's one of them which frustrates you when it's against you. I totally understand Slot. I think Pep Guardiola would say the same if it was on the other side.
"I think there's enough doubt to not give the red card. For me, the decision was right."