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Liverpool contact PGMOL for explanation over two ‘wrong’ decisions against Aston Villa
Liverpool have contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to ask for clarification regarding two controversial decisions in the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday.
Roberto Firmino’s last-minute equaliser earned the Reds a share of the spoils in their final home game of the season. However, it could have been a late winner had referee John Brooks not disallowed an earlier Cody Gakpo strike for offside after a VAR review.
The official, who Jurgen Klopp infamously celebrated in the face of during Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last month, chalked off the Dutchman’s goal after being sent to check the VAR monitor for an offside in the build-up. He ultimately disallowed the goal after deeming that defender Ezri Konsa hadn’t made a deliberate attempt to play the ball, with his contact diverting it to Virgil van Dijk, who was standing in an offside position, earlier in the move.
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Meanwhile, Gakpo was also involved in another controversial incident in the first half when Tyrone Mings escaped a red card despite a chest-high challenge on the forward. The defender was booked for the tackle, with VAR ruling that no further action was necessary, and not asking Brooks to check the monitor himself on that occasion.
The draw with Aston Villa has all but ended Liverpool’s slim hopes of finishing in the top four this season, with the Reds needing to beat Southampton on the final day of the season while hoping one of Manchester United or Newcastle United lose both of their two remaining matches to stand any chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
And after Brooks’ two questionable decisions and the inconsistency in monitor reviews contributed to stopping their top four charge in its tracks, the ECHO understands that the club have now contacted the PGMOL to ask for an explanation regarding both incidents.
Klopp shared his bemusement at both decisions when speaking at his post-match press conference after the final whistle.
“I asked the ref why the offside goal was offside, because offside situations should be clear but he explained it to me,” the German said. “He said it was a subjective decision.
“He thinks it is a not deliberate action from the defender, but I think it is. And I think the VAR wasn’t sure. So he maybe thought it’s possible. In the end it’s a subjective decision. You can’t argue with that. He made it and that’s it.”
Meanwhile, Klopp shared his surprise that Brooks didn’t check the VAR monitor following Mings’ foul on Gakpo in the first half.
“I was (surprised). I am not sure if you saw Cody, but he looks sponsored by a very famous brand (Adidas),” Klopp joked, in reference to one of his own sponsors. “Three massive (marks). I didn’t see it back.
“Was it a red card from your point of view? That is the question, I cannot answer that question.
“I was probably too far away from that. I saw Cody only later when he showed it to me. You cannot do that without making a proper foul.”
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