Liverpool news: Ex-Fifa official issues ‘clear’ verdict on Diogo Jota controversy as footage analysed
Keith Hackett has praised the officials for awarding Liverpool a penalty in their 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday (2 April).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed it was good to see Juraj Kucka’s holding of Diogo Jota punished by VAR operator John Brooks.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, Jota, 25, was brought down by Kucka as Jordan Henderson whipped in a corner.
It went unnoticed by referee Stuart Attwell but Brooks instructed him to look at the pitchside monitor and he overturned his decision after having a second look.
Fabinho netted the resulting spot-kick to wrap up the three points for Liverpool after Jota opened the scoring in the first half.
“Grappling is how I term it,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It goes unpunished and there’s an inconsistency.
“I thought it was really really refreshing that John Brooks, a new kid on the block, felt comfortable enough to come in.
“This was a clear grab and hold and bring to the ground of a player. For me, he got it spot on.
“It was almost a rugby tackle. You’re thinking ‘Why is a player doing that?'”
The three points lifted the Reds to the top of the Premier League temporarily before Man City beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor to restore their three point lead.
The two heavyweights meet at the Etihad next Sunday (10 April) but both are in Champions League action in midweek.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed the two things FSG do ‘spectacularly’ amid a Liverpool transfer claim.