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Ref Watch: Sergio Aguero elbow a red card, says Dermot Gallagher

Sergio Aguero clashes with Winston Reid during Manchester City's 3-1 victory over West Ham
Image: Sergio Aguero clashes with Winston Reid during Manchester City's 3-1 victory over West Ham

Ref Watch is back to debate another selection of controversial decisions from some of the weekend's Premier League matches.

Former top-flight official Dermot Gallagher has been in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to analyse a number of contentious calls.

From a whole host of penalties given to those not awarded, red cards and a spot of 'simulation', we have it all covered in this week's edition.

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Niall Quinn believes Sergio Aguero should have been off and Dermot Gallagher agrees

MATCH: Manchester City v West Ham, Premier League, Sunday

INCIDENT: Sergio Aguero escapes a red card after appearing to elbow Winston Reid

SCENARIO: Following a long ball, Reid and Aguero are close together and the Man City forward directs an elbow at the West Ham defender as he heads the ball away - no free-kick is given and Aguero does not receive a caution

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Incorrect decision

DERMOT SAYS: It's a red card. I can't defend the referee. I was taught, look at his fist, if a player is going to throw his arm out violently, he has to clench his fist. Will he face retrospective action? I honestly don't know, because none of the officials witnessed that act. It's difficult to say the referee has not seen that, but he has not recognised it. Until the FA speak to the referee, we won't know, because he hasn't even given a free-kick.

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Should Aguero be banned?

MATCH: Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Charlie Daniels pulls the shirt of Christian Benteke, with referee Mike Dean awarding a spot kick

SCENARIO: Bournemouth defender Daniels gets hold of Benteke's shirt as the Palace striker chests the ball down, leading to referee Dean pointing to the spot

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: Daniels pulls the shirt back. Dean made a stand last week and gave penalties for the same thing. He's been consistent. It doesn't matter if he's moving away from goal, a foul is a foul.

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Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty when Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels fouled Christian Benteke. But was the ref right?

MATCH: Everton v Stoke City, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Phil Bardsley tangles with Ashley Williams in the penalty area, with referee Michael Oliver pointing to the spot

SCENARIO: Williams runs towards the front post ahead of a Everton corner, with Bardsley appearing to trip the defender as the ball comes in

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: I've seen a few different angles and I think he does [get this decision right]. When Williams comes across, there's a tangle of legs, and that's what he gives it for. It's not for a push, it's for a trip. Bardsley didn't mean to do it but he's brought him down. If the guy was through on goal then everyone would expect a red card and foul.

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Bardsley brings down Williams for penalty

MATCH: Tottenham v Liverpool, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Jan Vertonghen pulls down Joel Matip in the penalty area, no spot kick is given by Robert Madley

SCENARIO: Just before a corner is taken, Liverpool's Matip goes down in the area after contact with Vertonghen - no penalty is given as the ball was not in play

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: The ball was dead so the referee can't give a foul, even though everybody argues it is [a foul]. The best result there was to warn the player, send out the message, because that didn't happen at a corner again. 

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Spurs’ Jan Vertonghen only received a telling off for hauling Joel Matip to the ground. Should Liverpool have been awarded a penalty?

MATCH: Tottenham v Liverpool, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Erik Lamela clips Roberto Firmino in the Spurs box, Madley gives Liverpool a penalty

SCENARIO: Firmino enters the penalty area near the byline and is tripped by Lamela just before the ball goes out of play

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: It's a penalty. All the clues are there, Lamela himself knew he'd done it. He was unlucky but he has clipped his foot. The referee gave himself a perfect view so he's seen the contact.

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Liverpool's opening penalty

MATCH: Tottenham v Liverpool, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Joel Matip blocks off Vincent Janssen in the box but no penalty is awarded

SCENARIO: Dele Alli's lofted ball goes over both Matip and Janssen, the Liverpool defender holds his ground while the Spurs striker runs into him and goes down - no penalty, says Madley

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: Matip is always there. It's his line and if anything Janssen grabs onto him. Matip can't make himself invisible.

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Does Matip unfairly clock Janssen?

MATCH: Tottenham v Liverpool, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Sadio Mane's goal is ruled out for offside

SCENARIO: Mane's strike is ruled out after Adam Lallana is adjudged offside in the build-up

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: It is [just a matter of inches]. Linesmen can't catch players sometimes, it's impossible from a standing start, but they're taught to look across like that. It was so tight, but he is right.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur is chased down by Adam Lallana of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Tottenham H
Image: Dele Alli of Tottenham is chased down by Adam Lallana

MATCH: Tottenham v Liverpool, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: No offside is given ahead of Danny Rose's equaliser for Spurs

SCENARIO: Eric Dier is played in down the right, and the linesman keeps his flag down before his cross ends up at Rose's feet, who then smashes home the equaliser

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: It's a tough, tough call but he's got it right. He's not in the ideal position but the Liverpool player in the middle of the park has played him on. It's so tight.

Danny Rose scores the equaliser for Tottenham
Image: Danny Rose scores the equaliser for Tottenham

MATCH: Watford v Arsenal, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Nordin Amrabat is judged to have barged Alexis Sanchez and a penalty is awarded, but no red card is given

SCENARIO: From Mesut Ozil's cross, Sanchez goes down after Amrabat comes running in, leading with his arm, though he does not receive a card

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision

DERMOT SAYS: Nobody would say that's violent. That's a very careless challenge. He can't win the ball there. Amrabat has put his arm into his back.

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Watford v Arsenal Incident

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