Skip to main content
Liverpool Echo

Premier League release statement over double Liverpool VAR penalty controversy at Fulham

The home side had two decisions reviewed early in the game at Craven Cottage

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts, while laying on the floor, as Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones of Liverpool look on during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage on April 06, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The Premier League has explained why Liverpool did not concede a penalty early on in their clash at Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

The Cottagers had two shouts for a spot kick turned away in the opening minutes after a mistake from Ibrahima Konate inside his own area gifted Andreas Pereira possession.


Pereira first collided with Caoimhin Kelleher after attempting to take the ball around the Reds goalkeeper, and then Rodrigo Muniz ran into Virgil van Dijk as the Fulham striker sought to pounce on the rebound.


READ MORE: Fulham vs Liverpool LIVE - Sessegnon, Mac Allister goals, score and commentary streamREAD MORE: Alisson Becker absent as Cody Gakpo makes Liverpool return at Fulham

However, referee Chris Kavanagh saw no reason to penalise either challenge, a decision that was upheld by VAR Matthew Donoghue.

And a statement from the Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Fulham following a challenge by Kelleher on Pereira was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed a coming together and not a reckless action.

Article continues below

“The VAR also checked and cleared the incident between van Dijk and Muniz.”

Liverpool went into the game 11 points clear at the Premier League summit having been unbeaten in their last 26 top-flight matches.

Follow Liverpool Echo:


Liverpool FC
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.