'It's Incredible' - Ex-PGMOL chief slams Darren England after analysing Liverpool footage

Cody Gakpo should have been awarded a blatant penalty during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Darren England ruined his own performance with the missed incident.

Andoni Iraola's side took an early two-goal lead at Portman Road on Friday, 4 September, thanks to a brilliantly taken brace from Alexander Isak.

It could have been even better for the travelling Reds, though, when Gakpo was scythed down by Abdul Fatawu inside the penalty area, but off the ball.

With the incident occuring on the stroke of half-time, Liverpool could have gone into the break with a three-goal lead, but they were instead left frustrated.

Having released the ball to a teammate, the Reds' No.18, who grabbed both assists for Isak's goals, was then brought down rather cynically.

'Darren England was having a good game until then'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett simply couldn't believe that the incident was missed by the referee and VAR, labelling the scenes as "incredible".

"When you look at it, it's just incredible that the referee has missed it and then VAR has not come in," he said.

"If we start to examine it, it's possible that the referee, in a good position, has actually followed the flight of the ball moving away and actually not held his gaze, which he's supposed to do.

"There's no getaway from here. This is a foul. The challenge is reckless. It has to be a penalty kick, and it has to be a yellow card.

"Darren England was having, up to that point, quite a good game, certainly by his standards. But this is a major decision that potentially impacted on the result.

"Liverpool were denied a penalty kick, simple as that."

What does the future hold for Cody Gakpo?

The Dutch international was strongly linked with a move away from Anfield during the summer, with a last-gasp move to Manchester City collapsing.

With Liverpool signing Bradley Barcola, it seemed as though his time at the club was coming to an end, only for him to star at Portman Road.

Football Insider understands that the attacker could now be used in a different role in order to shoehorn their new signing into the lineup.

It is understood that he could feature on the opposite flank, and as a right-footer, he would be able to fit seamlessly into the lineup without a hiccup.