Liverpool news: Ex-Premier League referee issues penalty verdict as controversial Alisson footage analysed
Keith Hackett has insisted the referee was right not to award Nottingham Forest a penalty in their 1-0 loss to Liverpool yesterday (20 March).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee accused Ryan Yates of “manufacturing the contact” with Alisson late on at the City Ground.
With just over five minutes to go, Yates was played in behind the Liverpool defence and attempted to round Alisson.
The midfielder took it around the 29-year-old before falling himself to the ground.
Replays showed the Liverpool goalkeeper made contact with Yates but his reaction was delayed.
“I don’t think it was a penalty kick,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“The forward has been very clever. This is where they manufacture contact and that is what this player has done – he’s manufactured contact.
“When you look at it closely you don’t see any response from the glove of the goalkeeper. It’s not a penalty.
“This is what referees have got to look out for and they do look out for it in fairness. This is the player dragging his foot, holding it to the ground and looking for a penalty.
“He’s manufactured the contact, it’s gone on for years and sometimes it fools the referee. On this one, he didn’t. He wasn’t going to get it.”
Liverpool’s 1-0 win has set up an FA Cup semi-final with Man City for next month.
The FA Cup is the only trophy Jurgen Klopp has not won with the Reds since he took over at Anfield in October 2015.
In other news, a £12million-valued star will tell Liverpool he wants to join a London club.