‘Simply amazed’ – Ex-refs chief rips into Chris Kavanagh as Man City-Liverpool footage re-analysed
Chris Kavanagh was scrutinised for an error he made during Manchester City’s showdown against Liverpool.
In the most eye-catching fixture of the Premier League weekend, Man City and Liverpool saw this clash as an opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal.
On Saturday night, Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland after Brian Brobbey’s last-gasp equaliser, making the door slightly ajar in the title race.
City entered this match seven points behind the leaders, while the Reds were eight adrift, setting up a potential classic at the Etihad Stadium.
Keith Hackett slams Chris Kavanagh for awarding Man City’s penalty
In the early stages, the match certainly lived up to the excitement, as the hosts were involved in a controversial penalty decision.
Jeremy Doku went down inside the box after minimal contact from Giorgi Mamardashvili, and referee Chris Kavanagh initially waved claims of a spot kick away.
However, after a VAR review, Kavanagh overturned the decision and said: “After review, the goalkeeper commits a foul challenge on the attacker, the final decision is penalty.”
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former EX-PGMOL chief and FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, disagreed and felt it was a ‘poor decision’.
He explained: “I’m simply amazed a penalty kick was awarded when no real offence had taken place. You don’t guess in these situations, you want to be 100 per cent. Fortunately it was saved, to save the embarrassment of the match officials.
“A really poor decision – there is no foul, therefore no offence. Not a penalty kick. Poor decision by the match officials.”
Justice was arguably served when Erling Haaland missed the resulting spot kick, although it didn’t alter the complexion of the match.
Haaland scored a brilliant glancing header before a Nico Gonzalez strike from outside the box punished a beleaguered Liverpool.
Where does this result leave the Premier League title race?
Doku’s second-half screamer made sure of the three points for City and pushed them four points behind Arsenal in the title race.
Meanwhile, another defeat for Liverpool leaves them a whopping eight points adrift of the league leaders, putting their trophy defence in major doubt.
Matt Le Tissier predicted Liverpool to win the Premier League title when speaking to Football Insider at the end of September, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.
The Reds lacked confidence, authority and looked leggy against City, and that has been three major issues all season.