Ex-Premier League official Mike Dean remarked that Jeremy Doku was quite lucky to not be penalized after seeming to hit Alexis Mac Allister in the chest during the final stages of Manchester City’s 1-1 tie with Liverpool.
Mac Allister, who may have been responsible for John Stones’ initial goal, equalized with a penalty in the 50th minute following Ederson’s tackle on Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez in the box.
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The visiting team, champions of three titles last year, endured a barrage of late attempts by Liverpool, resulting in a draw that kept Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings after 28 matches.
Nonetheless, Liverpool’s opportunity to claim a full victory was thwarted in the last moments of the game when City’s Doku made contact with Mac Allister’s chest, having just hit the post with a left-footed shot minutes before.
Despite a review by VAR, the play was deemed fair, but Gary Neville, the ex-Manchester United player and Sky Sports commentator, suggested that Doku was fortunate upon reviewing the footage, and Dean initially thought it might warrant a penalty.
‘I can’t think he’s touched the ball, Doku, and the follow through – he’s caught him right in the chest,’ former official Dean said before VAR checked the challenge.
‘For me, it could be a penalty. ‘It’s a massive decision by the VAR, he’s got a tiny touch on the ball with the follow through full on the ribcage.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if Stuart [Attwell] sends Michael Oliver to the screen.’
Once the incident was checked, Dean said: ‘The check is complete.
‘Obviously he played the ball first and the follow through, I’m guessing, they’re saying is a normal coming together.
‘He’s very, very fortunate in my opinion there, Doku.’
During the post-match discussion with Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison, Klopp expressed his belief that Doku’s challenge constituted a foul and seemed to indirectly criticize Dean.
When inquired if the penalty appeal was the motive for his conversation with referee Oliver at the end of the match, Klopp replied: ‘Yeah. I think it’s worth talking about it.
‘It was [a reasonable conversation], maybe you can answer me that! ‘Maybe your opinion is not important, we had that conversation years ago. Would you have given a penalty in that situation?
The Liverpool manager added: ‘Isn’t VAR there for just making the right decision and not thinking about how high the bar is you have to overturn to find the right decision?
‘I think you agree that this situation, in all the positions on the pitch, is 100 per cent a foul and it’s a yellow card.
‘He hit the ball, yes, but he can only hit the ball because his foot is right there. If the ball is not there, he kills him.
‘Again, you will find people… don’t you employ Mike Dean, is he working for Sky? Congratulations, that’s a great appointment by the way. He will find something and all the others as well.
‘It’s a penalty for all football people on the planet. It’s a penalty. If you think it’s not one then maybe you’re not a football fan.’
