Peter Crouch and Phil Jagielka split on Liverpool penalty as Rio Ferdinand makes claim

TNT Sports pundits believe Craig Pawson was right to award Liverpool a penalty against Everton in the Merseyside derby. Mohamed Salah converted to set the Reds on their way to a 2-0 win.

TNT Sports' pundits Peter Crouch and Phil Jagielka were conflicted on whether referee Craig Pawson was right to award Liverpool a game-changing penalty during Saturday's 2-0 victory over Everton.

Mohamed Salah was the match-winner for the Reds with his two goals in the second half. They came as Liverpool struggled to break down a resolute Everton side, who played most of the afternoon with 10 men after Ashley Young was given his marching orders before half-time.

However, with little over 15 minutes of the contest remaining at Anfield, the Reds were awarded a penalty after Luis Diaz's cross hit the hand of Blues defender Michael Keane. Salah dispatched his spot-kick high into the net to hand Liverpool the lead and he later added a game-clinching second deep into added time.

Speaking after the game, Everton boss Sean Dyche insisted that Pawson's awarding of the penalty "changed the game" and TNT's pundits at Anfield, which included ex-Blues skipper Jagielka, were split on whether the referee made the right call.

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"It’s an evolution," said Jagielka on Pawson's decision to penalise Keane. "There was a point where if it touched anywhere on your arm a couple of years ago it’s a handball. They are trying to make it as easy as possible to understand, but your hand is a part of your body and when you are moving from side to side, it won’t be right next to you."

Former Liverpool forward Crouch, meanwhile, agreed with Jagielka that Everton were unfortunate, but believed the right call was made.

"Unfortunately, it’s a penalty in this day and age," added Crouch. "There’s no way it’s a deliberate handball, but his hand is out of its natural position. Once it’s outstretched, in this day and age it’s a penalty."

Rio Ferdinand, though, claimed Liverpool were lucky to break the deadlock and thinks Jurgen Klopp's side may have ended the afternoon with only a share of the spoils had VAR not intervened with 74 minutes on the clock.

"I think that was the only way Liverpool would score today," said the former Manchester United defender. "I don’t think they were peppering the Everton goal today."