Will Smallbone conceded a penalty against Liverpool for a foul on Darwin Nunez. _(Image: Wyscout)_
FORMER England goalkeeper Joe Hart was adamant Liverpool's first penalty against Southampton was "100 per cent" the correct decision.
The Reds were controversially awarded a spot kick during their 3-1 win over Saints when Smallbone was adjudged to have gone through the back of Nunez inside the box.
Replays suggested there was minimal contact and Smallbone was quick to tell the referee that he had not touched the Liverpool goalscorer.
Mo Salah stepped up to convert his first of two penalties after a VAR check to complete Liverpool's four-minute turnaround at Anfield.
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“He (Nunez) just gets in front of Smallbone, I 100 per cent think it’s a penalty," two-time Premier League winner Hart said on Match of the Day.
“He went clumsily through the back of him. In those three or four minutes, the game has completely turned."
Nunez was perhaps lucky to remain on the pitch in the first half after a reckless tackle on Saints full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
He kicked out on Walker-Peters after Southampton had taken the lead through Smallbone but was only shown a yellow card after a lengthy VAR stoppage.
Former Premier League forward Chris Sutton was in attendance at Anfield, working for BBC Radio 5 Live, and felt Nunez was fortunate to avoid a red card.
“It was such a reckless, daft challenge," Sutton insisted. "Liverpool are lucky to have 11 on the pitch.”