'A lot of supporters will be shouting at the TV' - Shay Given explains why Liverpool penalty decision was right
Latest Liverpool news as former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given has explained why he disagrees with the argument that the Reds should have had a penalty after a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes the correct decision was made for Liverpool not to be awarded a penalty despite a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw with Man City on Sunday in the Premier League clash at Anfield. Mac Allister scored from the penalty spot after Ederson fouled Darwin Nunez after John Stones had put the visitors in front.
In second-half stoppage time, Mac Allister was challenged by Jeremy Doku as the Reds appealed for another penalty. Referee Michael Oliver did not award a spot-kick on this occasion, with VAR also not intervening.
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The decision not to award a penalty has been the subject of debate in the hours after the final whistle at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp and Mac Allister both agreed that a spot-kick should have been awarded, but Given - who spent two-and-a-half years at Man City during his playing career, believes Oliver made the right decision.
Given was appearing as a pundit on BBC's Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, where he was alongside host Mark Chapman and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Muphy.
"This is the big moment at the end of the game where Jurgen Klopp and Mac Allister think it’s a stonewall penalty," said Given. "I actually don’t and I know you two [Chapman and Murphy] are going to disagree with me.
"I think he gets the ball and then obviously his foot is high and he gets Mac Allister after that. Now I understand you guys will say, 'If that’s anywhere else on the pitch', and what have you.
"But I think Michael Oliver is in a really good position. He’s four or five yards away and he’s watching it, the ball is not head height."
This led to Murphy responding with a tongue-in-cheek joke in response to Given's comments. The former Liverpool midfielder jokingly said: "Are you sure that was water in your cup before the show?"
Given then stood by his comments and explained why he believed Oliver was right not to award a penalty for the Reds.
"In my opinion, and I know a lot of Liverpool fans will be shouting at the TV now that I’m wrong," said Given. "I think he’s got a toe on the ball and then obviously he’s hit Mac Allister after."
Given's comments show he disagrees with Klopp's assessment of the challenge from Doku. The Liverpool boss explained why it was a foul the Man City forward on Mac Allister and why a penalty should have been awarded.
Klopp told Sky Sports after the final whistle: "Would you have given the penalty in that situation? Isn’t it [VAR] there for just making the right decision and not thinking about how high the bar is to overturn a decision?
"Anywhere else on the pitch that is a 100% foul, and it’s a yellow card. He hits the ball, and only because his foot is up here, he kicks him. You will find people, like Mike Dean, is he working for Sky? Great appointment by the way but he and others will find something and all the others as well.
"It’s a penalty for all football people on the planet, if you don’t think so, maybe you’re not a football person."