Liverpool have been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG again, but that may not have been the case had Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty stood.
Arne Slot’s side were drawing 0-0 prior to the incident and had started to put some pressure on the away side’s backline when the Argentine was fouled in the French side’s box.
The referee initially pointed to the spot, but VAR overturned the call, which both Wayne Rooney and Mark Clattenburg think should not have happened.
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Wayne Rooney says Alexis Mac Allister penalty should have stood
Speaking to Amazon during the game, former Premier League referee Clattenburg said Mac Allister’s penalty may be viewed as ‘soft’ but suggested there was no clear and obvious error made.
He said: “We talk about clear and obvious, every time we talk about the VAR interventions, but when you see the contact on Mac Allister’s foot. People will say it’s soft, but it’s not wrong.
“Once the referee gives it, I expect the penalty to be upheld; if he hadn’t give it, I would expect the VAR not to interfere. But once the on-field decision was [a] penalty kick, I would expect the penalty to be given.”
Then, also speaking to Amazon after the match, ex-Manchester United striker Rooney also agreed it was ‘soft’ but should still have stood.
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He said: “I think it was soft when the referee give it. But I think after giving it I don’t think it should go to VAR. I think it should have stood, should have been a penalty and Liverpool really unfortunate not to get that penalty.
“If they get that, they score, I think maybe it’s a different game, different outcome.”
Robbie Fowler’s verdict on Liverpool’s penalty against PSG
Rooney was joined alongside former Liverpool man Robbie Fowler as a pundit, and he too thinks the wrong call was made by VAR.
Fowler stated: “[When the penalty was given] PSG were on the ropes a bit, Liverpool threw a few balls into the box and caused a little bit of chaos. That was a real game-changer.
“Did I think it was a penalty? It was a soft one, but I don’t think VAR should change it.”
It seems pretty clear most agree VAR should not have changed the on-field decision, but there can also be no denying that the Reds just simply were not good enough over the two legs to advance.
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