Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister believes that referee Michael Oliver "made a mistake" for not awarding "a clear penalty" after a high challenge made on him by Manchester City's Jeremy Doku in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Mac Allister cancelled out John Stones's first-half opener when he scored a spot kick just five minutes after the interval following a rash tackle from City goalkeeper Ederson on Darwin Nunez.
The Premier League title-chasing duo could not be separated during a pulsating contest, but there was a heart-in-mouth moment for the Citizens in stoppage time when Doku raised his boot at chest height to win the ball off Mac Allister inside the area before following through with his studs.
Referee Oliver waved away Liverpool's appeals and VAR official Stuart Attwell decided to stick with the on-field decision following a review.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that his side should have "100%" been awarded a late penalty, and Mac Allister has since shared his views on the incident.
Were Liverpool unlucky to not be awarded a penalty? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gWpYOfzuNX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 10, 2024
"Me? Just me? You think it's just me?!", the Argentine told BBC Sport after the match when asked if he thought it was a penalty.
"I think it's a clear penalty, I cannot say much more. I think the ref did a very good job throughout the game, but I think he made a mistake in the last decision."
Discussing Liverpool's performance, Mac Allister added: "We wanted more and I think we deserved much more than a point. I think the performance was very good, second half was amazing so very proud in that sense, but gutted that we didn't get the three points."
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that there would have been less of an argument if a penalty was awarded to Liverpool.
Speaking to Sky Sports News on their 'Ref Watch' segment, Gallagher said: "From my point of view, it's easy to give the penalty. If you give it, there won't be much talk about it.
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"Doku gets the ball, there's no doubt about that – the argument is, does getting the ball negate a penalty? Well, we saw at Bournemouth [recently], no.
"VAR is sure Doku gets the ball, he's right, so he decides to go with the on-field decision of no penalty.
"It raises lots of dilemmas, I think there would be less argument if it was given as a penalty. I'm surprised there is a wide split. It's a big, big call. He made the decision based on what he saw."
There are others who are less convinced that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty; former Reds defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports after the match that he understands why the decision was not overturned by VAR, while former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane feels that there was not enough force in Doku's challenge to award a spot kick.
The draw for Liverpool means that they stay second in the Premier League table, level on points with leaders Arsenal – who sit at the summit on goal difference – while reigning champions Man City sit one point further back in third place.
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