Premier League explain why Liverpool penalty decision stood as Matthias Jaissle bemoans ‘soft’ call

The Premier League have explained why Liverpool were awarded their last-gasp penalty to claim a point against Newcastle.

Dominik Szoboszlai scored from the spot in the ninth minute of stoppage-time as VAR stood by the referee’s on-field decision.

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With the match entering the final seconds, Liverpool launched a desperate ball towards the box, looking for a chance.

It was cleared at first, but fell to new signing Victor Munoz, who drove into the box and attempted to go past Newcastle‘s Lewis Hall.

As he did so, Hall stepped to his left, bringing his knee and thigh across the Spanish winger and bringing him down.

Referee Stuart Atwell quickly pointed to the spot, awarding a penalty for Andoni Iraola‘s side in the dying moments.

VAR took a look at the incident and agreed that it was a spot-kick, much to the distaste of fans inside St. James’ Park.

Szoboszlai would go on to emphatically find the top corner from the penalty, saving Liverpool as they took home a point.

Premier League explain Liverpool penalty

The awarding of the penalty was met with plenty of boos and groans from Newcastle supporters, with manager Matthias Jaissle going on to label it ‘soft’ when speaking post-match.

It certainly split opinion, but the Premier League have revealed their reasoning behind their decision on social media.

Posting on their Match Centre account, they explained: “The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Hall on Muñoz was checked and confirmed by VAR.

“REF: ‘He doesn’t play the ball. He makes clear contact.’ VAR: ‘It’s knee into thigh contact. Confirming the on-field decision of penalty’.”

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Did the referee make the right decision?

Despite the explanation, former Newcastle and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew disagreed with the penalty decision.

He said on talkSPORT’s The Final Word: “They launch it into the box, it comes to him…it’s light in my opinion.

“I think the referee should have let it go and not given it.”

And Newcastle boss Jaissle was of a similar mind, telling Sky Sports post-match: “It’s a really soft one. If you give that, then there will be so many penalties in the future.

“I am not a fan of that, but I cannot say any more.”

Meanwhile, in the Liverpool camp, Ryan Gravenberch has said that he believes it was a ‘clear foul’ on Munoz by Hall.

That was echoed by Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge on Sky Sports too, with the pair believing that it was ‘harsh’ but that the contact was there, making it a ‘thoroughly deserved penalty’.