During liverpool’s 1-1 draw with arsenal at anfield on saturday, jurgen klopp expressed bemusement at his team’s lack of a penalty. Following the game, the german revealed that he is waiting for an explanation as to why gunners captain martin odegaard was not punished for a simple handball during the first half of the top-of-the-table match.
Klopp said, “i have seen it.” “i’m pretty sure someone will come to tell me why it wasn’t a handball, but i don’t know how?” he said. Mohamed salah flicked trent alexander-arnold’s deflected free-kick into the net, and the norwegian leant into the ball before kicking it away with his left hand. Arsenal broke on the counter-attack and a var investigation was ongoing, according to on-field referee chris kavanagh. However, stockley park officials determined that it was not a simple and obvious mistake that needed to be reversed, and kavanagh was not asked to revisit the decision.
“i don’t say the ref can see it because i don’t know where he was in that situation,” klopp said, before asking: “but how can a guy in an office see it and not come to the conclusion that perhaps, possibly, it could be worth the referee’s extra attention?” Very ‘fortunate’ at the time of the incident, former liverpool defender jamie carragher, who was on analyst duty at anfield for sky sports, said he thought arsenal captain gunner was “very lucky” to escape punishment. “i think that’s a fine,” he said. Former arsenal star theo walcott said he’d “want that” if it were his squad during the halftime break. Odegaard’s saving grace, according to sky sports co-commentator gary neville, was that there was a “slip.”
That right leg is giving way, causing his left arm to fall down. I think that’s what saves him. I think he’s lucky, but it could be that his foot gives way, causing him to put his arm down to try and rebalance, which saves him.” Liverpool fans were enraged by the incident at the time, with the club trailing 0-1 after gabriel’s early header. Salah equalized the score moments after the incident with an excellent finish.
