Mohamed Salah Maxence Lacroix Darren England, Liverpool Crystal Palace PGMOL
Credit: Imago / Sky Sports via YouTube
Keith Hackett
Mon 26 May 2025 16:00, UK
Mohamed Salah and Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty after a handball from Maxence Lacroix, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Frenchman had “got away with one” in the draw between the two sides.
In spite of Liverpool cruising to the Premier League title, Salah had several records in his sights in the last few games of the season.
The Egyptian found himself just two assists away from matching Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s jointly-held record, and was also looking to become the first player since the Arsenal legend to reach 20 goals and 20 assists in the same season.
But as his teammates slowed down after wrapping up the title, the assists and goals also dried up for Salah.
The former Chelsea man found the back of the net late on against Palace, but an inspired performance from potential England starter Dean Henderson ended any chance of the 32-year-old breaking any more records this season.
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah came tantalisingly close to matching the Premier League’s assist record. (Credit: Imago)
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Maxence Lacroix blocks Mohamed Salah shot with arm
Following an opener from the in-form Ismaila Sarr just nine minutes into the final day of the Premier League, Ryan Gravenberch received his marching orders for a foul on Daichi Kamada.
That left the Reds with it all to do, and Liverpool ramped up the pressure as the game plan became simple: feed the ball to Salah.
With the game entering its final act, the Egyptian received a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai before whipping one of his trademark shots goal-wards.
It looked to be bending into the top corner of Henderson’s net, before Lacroix moved across, blocking the effort with a slightly outstretched arm.
Despite the appeals from Salah, Darren England was unmoved, awarding a corner instead of taking another look at the decision on the VAR monitor, much to the chagrin of Hackett.
Referee Darren England
Darren England chose not to award Liverpool a penalty. (Credit: Imago)
Keith Hackett explains why Darren England was incorrect on Liverpool penalty shout
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former PGMOL chief Hackett revealed that Palace and Lacroix were very fortunate that VAR had not called England over to the monitor for a second look at the incident.
He said: “I think he [Lacroix] does deliberately attempt to handle the ball and I think he’s actually got away with one.
“It’s great saying the hand’s close to the ball but what you do see here is movement of the hand towards the ball, therefore, I think he’s fortunate to get away with it.
“It’s this type of incident where it’s subjective, this is where I probably have a disagreement in terms of VAR.
“What is stopping the situation here where instead of VAR making that decision, the referee actually is called to the screen and he has another look?
Mohamed Salah Liverpool
Mohamed Salah’s Premier League stats this season. (Credit: Imago)
“If he decides as a referee that it’s not handball, then I think he should make that call.
“I think this is one where I would have liked to have seen the referee go to the screen.
“This referee has already got a record of staying with his decision and in that situation he’s already done it once, he’s already gone to the screen and said to the VAR in another game, get lost, I’m sticking with what I’ve given.
“Let him have a look and let him decide did the player handle the ball.”
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