Ex-Premier League referee issues ‘massive’ Liverpool claim as Luis Diaz controversy analysed
Keith Hackett has applauded referee Anthony Taylor for not awarding Liverpool winger Luis Diaz a penalty against Wolves on Sunday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League official claimed Diaz, 25, “manufactured the contact” and was “not going to get to the ball.”
As shown on Sky Sports (22 May), Diaz went down under a challenge from Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa in the early stages of Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Anfield.
Referee Anthony Taylor waved away the muted appeals for a penalty and VAR official Stuart Attwell deemed his colleague to have made no clear and obvious error.
Hackett was impressed by Taylor’s “courageous” handling of the incident in what was a “massive” game at Liverpool.
“Diaz is not going to get to the ball,” he told Football Insider.
“This is a case of manufactured contact. It’s not a penalty.
“In this case, Anthony Taylor is in a very good position. He put in a lot of physical effort. His positioning was good which allowed him to make a good judgement.
“For me, he has got that one spot on. He has said no and VAR would have checked it as well. I think they got the decision right. No penalty kick.
“It takes a lot of courage to not give that as well. It was a massive game at Anfield. That is a first-class decision.”
In other news, Antony has been tipped to shine in the Premier League by an expert who has ‘watched him closely’ amid latest report.