Exclusive: Hackett reacts to controversial Craig Pawson Liverpool call v Tottenham
Craig Pawson’s decision to award Liverpool a penalty in their thrashing of Tottenham at Anfield has been reviewed by Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Pawson made the correct decision in awarding Liverpool a penalty in their Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Spurs.
The decision came in the second-half, after Virgil van Dijk was fortunate to not see red against Tottenham, according to Hackett.
That decision would come to haunt Spurs, as Van Dijk scored the fourth goal in Liverpool’s rout of Spurs.
However, after Darwin Nunez was brought down by Kinsky in the second half, Hackett was full of praise for the referee’s decision despite the keeper seemingly getting a slight touch on the ball.
Antonin Kinsky concedes Liverpool penalty in Tottenham loss
With the score at 1-0 to Liverpool, and 1-1 on aggregate, the Reds were awarded a crucial spot kick, having been in the ascendency for the entire match.
Nunez was played through on goal and in classic striker fashion, managed to poke the ball past the Spurs goalkeeper before being brought down.
Whilst Kinsky had was well within his rights to try and intercept the ball, the Czech Republic international slightly misjudged the pass and gave away a penalty for his efforts, with VAR deciding not to step in and save his blushes.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former PGMOL chief, Hackett, said: “Referee Pawson was in a good position to judge the foul by the Spurs goalkeeper and without hesitation pointed to the penalty mark. Correct decision.”
Ange Postecoglou could face the sack at Tottenham, as the decision leaves Spurs once again facing a season trophy-less and potentially without European football unless they can win the FA Cup or Europa League.
Richarlison adds to Ange Postecoglou injury woes
Richarlison suffered another injury in the first-half as Spurs’ injury issues continue, and new signing Mathys Tel who joined from Bayern Munich on Deadline Day made his debut off the bench.
Ben Davies suffered a nasty gash to his head, after Kinsky collided with him in the first-half, as Postecoglou was once again forced to rotate his backline.
Radu Dragusin is now out for the season with an ACL injury, and Spurs were forced to start Davies and new signing Kevin Danso at centre-half together.
Spurs sank further and further into their own half throughout the game, eventually going down 4-0 thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Van Dijk