Liverpool have been given final verdicts on three incidents from their 0-0 draw with Fulham
Alexis Mac Allister is challenged by Shea Charles and Calvin Bassey during Liverpool vs Fulham
The Premier League KMI panel has had a final say on three key incidents in Liverpool's draw with Fulham(Image: (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
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The latest Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel findings have been released with verdicts given on three Liverpool controversies in their clash with Fulham.
Andoni Iraola's side were unable to break the deadlock against Fulham at Anfield, with former Reds defender Alvaro Arbeloa picking up a point on the road with his side.
However, the match was not without a number of flashpoints surrounding the officials. The first of those incidents came after just 11 minutes when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson had a coming together with Fulham star Josh King.
No penalty was given and the KMI panel voted four-to-one in favour of the correct decision on field, while all five felt the correct approach was taken by VAR.
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The reasoning given was: "The panel supported the referee's call of no penalty, 4:1. Alisson committed to a challenge which was then hurdled by King following completion of his action to pass the ball; so the lack of contact made it difficult to award a penalty."
The second incident in the game took place just after the hour mark when Liverpool appealed for a penalty after the ball appeared to hit Antonee Robinson, but the KMI panel felt the defender's arm was in a natural position.
All five of the panel agreed with the assistant referee's decision not to award a penalty and all five agreed that there should have been no VAR intervention to overturn the decision.
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They stated: "The referee's call of no penalty for a potential handball offence against Robinson was supported with his arms in an expected position."
The third and final incident saw penalty appeals waved away by the officials when Mac Allister hit the floor under the challenge of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.
There's no information available as to whether or not the panel felt Mac Allister should have been booked for simulation, but all five of the panel agree with both the referee's on-field decision and the lack of a VAR intervention.
They commented: "The referee's call of no penalty was supported with no contact made by Bassey on Mac Allister who fell to ground."
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hacket was left incensed by the referee's failure to book the Argentinian midfielder
"This is a clear act of simulation; it's exaggerated. Rightly, the referee hasn't bought it," he told Football Insider. "But at that point, I think he should have stopped the game and issued a yellow card for an act of simulation, attempting to deceive the referee.
"If referees and match officials take that approach, then we might see a reduction in that type of incident.
"It was exaggerated, it was a dive, simple for the match official, so I'm disappointed that action wasn't taken. The referee said no, so why doesn't he take action?"
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