Dermot Gallagher also reviewed Liverpool's penalty appeals against Southampton, decisions in the Old Firm derby - including Nir Bitton's red card, whether Tottenham's penalty against Leeds should have been awarded and gave his view on the Paul Pogba penalty incident
Tuesday 5 January 2021 12:51, UK
In the latest Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher says it was the right decision not to award Liverpool penalties for a Jack Stephens handball and tackle on Sadio Mane.
INCIDENT: Andre Marriner waved away claims when Georginio Wijnaldum's shot hit Jack Stephens on the elbow, with the defender sending the ball behind for a corner. VAR checked the decision and agreed with the referee.
DERMOT SAYS: "I watched the game live and I didn't think either of them were penalties. I thought the referee controlled the game pretty well, it ran without a lot of debate.
"I didn't think the Jack Stephens one was a penalty. What you've got to ask is does he put his hands out to block? No, you would expect his arms to be in that position. I don't talk about arms tucked into the body, I talk about the expected position for the arms to be.
"At that point, the defender is trying to block the ball, he's making his body shape to get to block that ball, he's not extending his arms. The ball also comes at a very short distance and very quick speed. There's no doubt it hits him on the elbow but I don't think any referee would give that as a penalty."
INCIDNET: Later in the second half, Sadio Mane was tripped over just inside the area by Kyle Walker-Peters. Similarly to the first call, Marriner waved away the penalty claims and VAR agreed.
Jurgen Klopp later told Sky Sports: "If anybody ever again will say Sadio Mane is a 'diver', it's the biggest joke in the world. This boy tries to stay on his feet with all he has. In two situations… other teams will get a penalty for it, let me say it like this. Then the handball, I don't know who will explain that to me."
DERMOT SAYS: "I think this is a tangle. Walker-Peters goes to make the challenge, I think he pulls out and Mane goes to skip the ball. You can see that they come together and I think it would be harsh to give a penalty.
"Walker-Peters is definitely going to pull out of the tackle, he doesn't want to get involved, he doesn't want to dangle a leg, which is what defenders are often accused of doing. He goes to tackle with his right leg and Mane actually goes into his left leg.
"The referee also couldn't be in a better position, so he has a perfect view of it. He can see the contact, how it's made - there's no doubt there's contact - and he says no. VAR quickly looked and agreed with the referee."
INCIDENT: Nir Bitton was dismissed in the 62nd minute at Ibrox after pulling down Alfredo Morelos and was adjudged to have denied him a goalscoring opportunity. Celtic boss Neil Lennon criticised referee Bobby Madden for the sending off.
DERMOT SAYS: "I was watching live and I thought red card. Once Morelos gets past Bitton he's got a run on goal. The law states denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, meaning can he get a shot away at goal. I would suggest Morelos would get a shot away long before Ajer gets across. He did not have to make that challenge, once you make it has to be a red card."
INCIDENT: Shane Duffy triggered a melee after a dangerous looking lunge on Ryan Kent - it resulted in a yellow card.
DERMOT SAYS: "This is as high a tariff yellow card as you get. It must be bordering on red, not so much for the first leg but the fact he follows through. The ref has seen that, he's just sent off Bitton, he needs to be assured that it really is pushed over the boundary but as it was right on it, he gave Duffy the benefit of the doubt. As I said earlier, another day another referee that could have been a red card."
INCIDENT: Douglas Luiz clumsily clipped Paul Pogba's heels in the area, handing Bruno Fernandes a penalty which he clinically dispatched into the bottom corner. Aston Villa boss Dean Smith thought Pogba tripped himself up for United's match-winning penalty.
DERMOT SAYS: "I think the referee thinks there is a tangle of legs and Pogba actually catches his foot. What I would say is once it's given, considering where the referee is on the pitch, it's never going to be overturned by VAR. You cannot fault Michael Oliver's positioning."
INCIDENT: Steven Bergwijn was caught on the edge of the area by Ezgjan Alioski after he had been turned by the Netherlands international, and after a VAR review ruled the offence had occurred just inside the area.
DERMOT SAYS: "It's like a forward being in an offside position - his body is in the area and he's fouled. There is no doubt about it. The line is quite conclusive. It's a penalty. Part of Bergwijn's body is in the area, part is not. That's why it's given. VAR have felt the contact continues into the box and therefore the penalty is given.
"There's been less controversy in the last couple of rounds as we are seeing more referees making more on-field decisions that are being supported by the VAR."
