Liverpool have been handed a fresh verdict from a former Premier League referee regarding the controversial penalty incident involving striker Hugo Ekitike during their recent stalemate with Leeds United.
Gallagher's Clear Verdict on Anfield Incident
Speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch programme, ex-official Dermot Gallagher delivered a firm assessment of the moment in the first half at Anfield. The incident saw Leeds defender Jaka Bijol appear to tug repeatedly at Ekitike inside the penalty area. The French forward stayed on his feet and managed to get a shot away, with referee Chris Kavanagh waving away Liverpool's appeals.
Gallagher was unequivocal, stating that Liverpool were wrongfully denied a spot-kick. He argued the outcome highlighted why players often choose to go down. "I watched this live and looked at it and thought, 'this is exactly why players go down,'" Gallagher explained. "In my view, if Ekitike goes down, I think not only a penalty, but Bijol is sent off because he has grabbed him and grabbed him and grabbed him."
He conceded that Ekitike's honesty in staying upright made the decision harder for the match official, but maintained it was a foul. "He stays on his feet and gets a shot away and that makes it a much more difficult decision for the referee, but if he hits the ground, the whole landscape changes," Gallagher added.
Ekitike 'Punished for Honesty'
Former professional footballer Jay Bothroyd, who also featured on the Ref Watch panel, fully agreed with Gallagher's analysis. Bothroyd suggested that Ekitike was effectively penalised for trying to remain on his feet and stay strong.
"You do not get rewarded for honesty and that is the problem," Bothroyd said. "Because players are not getting rewarded, like Ekitike there, who is trying to be strong and stay on his feet, I would be telling him, 'If that happens again, fall on the floor and go down,' as that way you are asking the officials to make a decision."
Bothroyd emphasised that the foul was clear and had significant consequences. "And everyone knows it is a foul, they got away with it and it would have been a red card as he stopped a goalscoring opportunity," he concluded.
Frustrating Stalemate for Slot's Reds
The 0-0 draw against Leeds on Thursday night extended Liverpool's unbeaten run to eight matches. However, it represented a second stalemate this season against Daniel Farke's side, following a 3-3 thriller at Elland Road in December. The performance at Anfield was widely described as disjointed, offering little evidence that the team has fully moved past earlier season struggles.
The result leaves Liverpool firmly in the Premier League's top four, with rivals Chelsea also drawing against Bournemouth earlier in the week. Nonetheless, there is a palpable sense of a missed opportunity for Arne Slot's side to strengthen their push for Champions League qualification.
This feeling is amplified by a daunting upcoming fixture list. Liverpool travel to face Fulham this Sunday, a team that has historically proven a tough opponent. Next week brings an even sterner test: an away match against league leaders Arsenal, who recently demolished Aston Villa 4-1. While Liverpool narrowly beat the Gunners at Anfield earlier in the campaign, that victory preceded a significant dip in form for Slot's men.
