Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher expected Liverpool to be awarded a penalty by VAR against Arsenal after the ball was handled by Gabriel Magalhaes.
The incident occurred quarter of an hour into the contest, when the Arsenal centre-back clearing blocked an attempted cross from Diogo Jota with a raised arm. Referee Michael Oliver failed to award a spot-kick, and when the incident went to a VAR review, his original decision was upheld.
The controversial incident was analysed by Gallagher on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch segment on Monday morning, who was surprised that a penalty was not awarded on review.
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He said: "All I can think is the referee and the VAR referee thought it was too close in proximity. What we have seen this season, if the arm is out by in large it’s been penalised. When I saw it I expected VAR to overturn it but they felt it was too close that’s why it wasn’t given."
Liverpool's frustration at the decision not going their way will not have been helped by a similar incident in the Newcastle v Brentford game played the day before, where the Bees were awarded a spot-kick after Aaron Hickey headed against Dan Burn's raised arm.
Gallagher said: "The minute I saw it, his arm was high, I expected it to be given, I did say I was surprised the Arsenal one wasn’t given. I did think they were very similar and not treated the same. The directive is if the arm is shoulder high or above it’s given, I never thought for second it wouldn’t be penalised. When I saw the replay of the Gabriel one, I anticipated the VAR would recommend a review, I think he only thought it was too close and if he didn’t recommend it, the referee can’t go to the screen."
In a crucial passage of the match, Arsenal were awarded a penalty of their own in the second half when Gabriel Jesus was adjudged to have been fouled by Thiago Alcantara, allowing Bukayo Saka to win the match for the Gunners 3-2. But that incident was also scrutinised by Gallagher who explained why Oliver's decision was unlikely to have gone to a VAR review.
Gallagher said: "I think it raises two issues. The first for me, it’s not in line with what we’ve seen this season. They’ve raised the threshold, there’s more physical contact. Without doubt he doesn’t play the ball and there is contact but is it enough to give a penalty? I think not.
"The problem is when it’s thrown to the VAR, Michael [Oliver] will say in my view he hasn’t got the ball - which he hasn’t - in my opinion, he’s touched the player and made the contact, which he has. There’s no evidence to say the referee hasn’t made the correct decision so the VAR should stay out, so it will always default to the referee’s decision."
The retired Premier League official also gave his view on an incident where Trent Alexander-Arnold was on the receiving end of a high boot from Gabriel Martinelli, leading to the Liverpool right-back's withdrawal from the match.
Gallagher said: "It was checked because I heard them checking it. Martinelli crosses the ball, it’s just unfortunate in football, there is physical contact that you don’t anticipate and this is one of those cases. He’s crossed the ball, Trent came in to block it and he’s caught him on the ankle, unfortunately, he’s sustained an injury - it’s a complete accident."
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