Arne Slot and his Liverpool side were left aggrieved after a handball went unpunished which could have landed Marcos Senesi in trouble
Marcos Senesi handles the ball during Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth
Marcos Senesi handled the ball during Liverpool's clash with Bournemouth
(Image: Paul Currie/Shutterstock)
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticised the Video Assistant Referee as he was left bemused by a handball decision during the game against AFC Bournemouth. Referee Anthony Taylor failed to spot a handball with from Marcos Senesi with Hugo Ekitike challenging to run through on goal before the incident was brought back.
As the Frenchman chased down the Bournemouth defender, Senesi took a loose touch before taking a swipe with his right hand to divert the ball away from Ekitike. If the action had not of happened, the Liverpool summer signing had a clear run on goal.
However, the VAR claimed that the ball came off the defender's leg before hitting his hand in an act that wasn't deliberate and therefore not an infringement.
Bournemouth were awarded a free-kick as Alexis Mac Allister handled the ball himself, seemingly in the belief that Liverpool had won a free-kick just inside the opponents half.
Speaking during Sky Sports' coverage as part of its commentary team, Carragher was left aghast by the decision and criticised Michael Oliver on VAR for supplying the wrong information to the on-field official.
He said: "Ekitike was adamant that the defender handled the ball... oh, that's handball.
"I mean, he knows exactly what he is doing. is is just a reaction as a defender but that is handball.
"We can hear what the VAR is saying, is almost like it's come off his leg and hit his hand and it's the second movement - it's not. He realises he has a problem and puts his hand toward the ball.
"How the VAR can say that... I say this a lot in games: I don't like people sent off, I really think a last resort for any official.
"There's plenty of time, he realises there's a problem and throws a hand at it. The information that the referee got was not correct."
Carragher wasn't the only one who was under the illusion that the Cherries survived an almighty scare.
Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer didn't mince his words as he highlighted the blunder. He said: "And we're off.
"That's a clear handball, man."
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