Jeremy Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister in the chest but a foul was not given (Picture: Getty)
Former Premier League official Mike Dean caught a stray from Jurgen Klopp as the manager criticised the decision not to award Liverpool a stoppage-time penalty in the side’s 1-1 draw with title rivals Manchester City.
Alexis Mac Allister converted from the spot to level for the hosts in the 50th minute, after John Stones opened the scoring midway through the first half, and the points were shared at Anfield – meaning Arsenal stay top of the table after their victory over Brentford.
The visitors, last year’s treble winners, managed to hold off a flurry of late attacks from Jurgen Klopp’s Reds as the clock ticked down, while second-half substitute Jeremy Doku was denied by the post on Merseyside.
Just moments later, the Belgian was at the heart of the action once again as he appeared to follow through on Mac Allister’s chest inside the box as City were scrambling to defend their goal.
Referee Michael Oliver decided against awarding Liverpool their second spot-kick of the match and nothing was given after a quick VAR check.
However, Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville felt Doku was a ‘lucky boy’ as he watched back replays of the coming together, while ex-Premier League official Dean suggested the City winger was ‘very fortunate’ not to have been pulled up for a foul.
‘I can’t think he’s touched the ball, Doku, and the follow through – he’s caught him right in the chest. For me, it could be a penalty,’ Dean said.
‘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 added: ‘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.’
Mac Allister equalised for Liverpool in the second half (Picture: Getty)
In his post-match interview with Patrick Davison, a prickly Klopp said Doku’s challenge was ‘100 per cent’ a foul before sarcastically congratulating Sky Sports on capturing the services of ex-referee Dean.
Klopp’s post-match interview with Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison
Klopp: ‘I think it’s worth talking about it. It was [a reasonable conversation with Michael Oliver]. Maybe your opinion is not important, we had that conversation years ago.
‘Would you have given a penalty in that situation? Would you have given a penalty?’
Davison: ‘You do like putting me on the spot! But I will answer it – I’m not surprised VAR didn’t overturn it.’
Klopp: ‘Because of the wrong reasons or something else?’
Davison: ‘Because of the high bar with the off-field official not wanting to re-referee the match.’
Klopp: ‘Isn’t it there to make the right decision and not thinking about how high the bar is to overturn the decision?
‘In all positions on the pitch, it is 100 per cent a foul and it’s a yellow card.’
Klopp: ‘They said he hit the ball but he can only do that because his foot is right there. But if the ball is not there, he kills him – the foot has nothing to do with it. It is as easy as that.
‘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.’
Klopp, doing battle with Pep Guardiola in the Premier League for the last time as Liverpool manager, was delighted with the ‘sensational’ performance despite his side failing to find a winner at the death.
‘Sensational. First ten minutes we were in a bit of a rush and Manchester City were directly there,’ the German said.
‘The second half was the best we ever played against Manchester City, definitely. They hit the post of course but we should have scored two or three goals. Exceptional football game. Wow!
‘For me, we proved today the first time 100 per cent we are exactly where we should be. We will fight for it and see what we can get.’
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Klopp claimed he had never seen City ‘struggle’ like they did across the 90 minutes.
‘I don’t think I’ve seen them struggling like they were today. We were outstanding,’ he went on.
‘The mother of all results is the performance. The good things we have to keep doing.’
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