Liverpool saw a penalty overturned in the second-half of their Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening, when Alexis Mac Allister was brought down by Willian Pacho
Alexis Mac Allister is brought down by Willian Pacho
Alexis Mac Allister had a penalty revoked against Paris Saint-Germain(Image: Getty Images)
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Mark Clattenburg has handed Liverpool an instant verdict on Alexis Mac Allister's second-half penalty against Paris Saint-Germain being overturned by VAR. The Argentine midfielder was brought to ground by Willian Pacho in what seemed to be a clear and obvious foul, with Marco Di Bello pointing straight for the spot.
However, as VAR began to take a look at the process, the nerves around Anfield began to build. Former referee Mark Clattenburg was quick to give his take on Amazon Prime Video's coverage of the Champions League quarter-final, as he was insistent that the penalty should stand.
He said: "We can class this as a clumsy challenge by the PSG defender. He does catch Mac Allister's foot.
"Therefore, because there is a contact, this will be accepted by VAR, that they will accept the referee's decision of a penalty kick. I don't expect the VAR to overturn this decision, because there is a contact on the foot."
After Di Bello was called over to the pitchside monitor for a second look, however, the Italian referee backtracked on his initial decision and ruled out the chance for Liverpool to take a 1-0 lead and eat into a 2-0 deficit put on them at the Parc des Princes last week.
That decision ultimately baffled Clattenburg. He added: "We talk about clear and obvious John, every time we talk about the VAR interventions, but when you see the contact on Mac Allister's foot...
"And people will say it's soft, but it's not wrong - there is a contact. Once the referee gives it, I expect the penalty to be upheld.
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"If he hadn't give it, I would accept the VAR not to interfere. But once the on-field decision was penalty kick, I would expect it to be given."
Alan Shearer, who was on commentary duty for the broadcaster, also added: "I'm surprised as well because Mac Allister does ever so well to try and protect that ball, inviting the challenge in from Pacho. And once he tries to get the ball and doesn't, and does make contact with him, and the referee gives it, I'm really, really surprised he's overturned that."
Liverpool entered Tuesday evening's encounter with a mountain to climb with hopes of making it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Marco Di Bello gestures
Marco Di Bello overturned the penalty(Image: Amazon Prime Video)
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Last week's initial meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-0 win for the Ligue 1 giants, thanks to goals from Desire Doue and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
After a goalless first-half at Anfield, meanwhile, matters went from bad to worse for the reds moments after Mac Allister's penalty was overturned.
That's because Ousmane Dembele proved to be a thorn in Liverpool's side with around 20 minutes left to play, curling the ball cutely past Giorgi Mamardashvili from the edge of the area before wheeling off in celebration.
Dembele then made it two for the evening early into stoppage time on the back of a patented Luis Enrique counter-attack to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate, breaking the hearts of Reds fans on Merseyside and watching around the world.
As a result, Liverpool now turn their attention solely to the Premier League for their last six matches of the season, starting with a maiden Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium come Sunday, April 19.
PSG, meanwhile, move on to the semi-finals of the Champions League to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final four of the competition.