Liverpool Exclusive: Kelleher ‘gets away with ‘unbelievable incident’ vs Fulham
Marco Silva had every right to be outraged on the touchline after Caoimhin Kelleher avoided conceding a penalty for Liverpool against Fulham, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Liverpool were extremely lucky to come away unscathed after a “double scenario” of incidents in their own box.
Liverpool travelled to Craven Cottage with a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 14 points, after second-placed Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Everton on Saturday.
Alexis Mac Allister’s superb strike from 20 yards had fired Liverpool 1-0 up in the 14th minute, sending Arne Slot’s side on course for a 23rd win of the season and putting the title within touching distance.
However, Fulham hit back through Ryan Sessegnon less than 10 minutes later, and within another 14, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz‘s goals had turned the game on its head, giving the hosts a 3-1 lead.
Kelleher and Van Dijk at heart of Liverpool controversy
Liverpool went into half-time shellshocked and 3-1 down in West London, but that scoreline was arguably justice for Fulham, after they were denied a stonewall penalty in the fifth minute of the game.
Ibrahima Konate coughing up possession gave Andreas Pereira a chance to create something, but after he released the ball, the Brazilian was swept off his feet, as Kelleher dived in and got nowhere near it.
| Fulham | Statistic | Liverpool |
| 3 | Goals | 1 |
| 0.55 | xG | 0.06 |
| 5 / 9 | Shots on Target | 1 / 2 |
| 46% | Possession | 54% |
| 3 | Corners | 1 |
The loose ball immediately broke for Muniz to tap into an empty Liverpool net, but he too was clattered completely off the ball; Virgil Van Dijk colliding with the striker as both players ended up on the deck.
Hackett joined Marco Silva in sheer disbelief that neither collision – both of which resulted in a lengthy delay as the Fulham duo and Van Dijk received treatment – resulted in a penalty being given to the hosts.
‘Beyond belief’ that VAR didn’t interfere to award Fulham penalty v Liverpool – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider for his thoughts on a Fulham penalty – or at the very least a review for one – not being given by Chris Kavanagh or VAR official Matt Donohue, the former FIFA referee said:
“I think the Fulham manager has every right to jump up and down in the technical area, when he sees two incidents – neither given, unbelievable!”, Hackett told Football Insider.
“Is there any wonder that the Fulham manager is jumping up and down? Liverpool’s Kelleher came out, with arms outstretched, nowhere near the ball, and in doing so, uses his body and brings down Pereira.
“It’s a penalty kick. In the same phase of play, Virgil van Dijk turns his body on his opponent in an act of unfair impeding – an offense – on Muniz, and we’ve got a double scenario here.
“The VAR didn’t interfere with either, didn’t recommend referee Chris Kavanagh going to the monitor – he should have done. Where is [Matt] Donohue, the VAR, looking?
“Because there’s two offences that both required a penalty kick decision; goalkeeper and Van Dijk, both guilty of offences inside the penalty area. [It’s] beyond belief.”
Fulham may have turned things around after Mac Allister gave Liverpool the lead following their let-off, but it remains to be seen how comfortable the hosts could have had things, if their penalty was given.