Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has stated that Liverpool ought to have been awarded a penalty during their goalless draw with Leeds United on Thursday night. The incident involved Reds striker Hugo Ekitike, who was tugged by Leeds defender Jaka Bijol inside the area but managed to stay on his feet, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to wave away appeals.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch programme, Gallagher noted that Ekitike's honesty may have cost his side a spot-kick. 'I watched this live and looked at it and thought, this is exactly why players go down,' he said. '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 added that staying upright made the decision more difficult for the referee, but insisted the call should have gone Liverpool's way.
Former footballer Jay Bothroyd, also appearing on the programme, concurred, arguing that Ekitike was not rewarded for staying on his feet. 'You do not get rewarded for honesty and that is the problem,' Bothroyd said. He suggested that he would advise the striker to go down in similar situations to force officials to make a decision.
The stalemate at Anfield leaves Liverpool's top-four hopes intact, but with a challenging run of fixtures ahead, including trips to Fulham and Premier League leaders Arsenal, the dropped points could prove costly. The Reds remain unbeaten in their last eight matches but will need to improve on a disjointed display to secure Champions League football.
