SAN FRANCISCO, November 28, (THEWILL) – English Premier League champions Liverpool were denied victory by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) as Scottish left back Andrew Robertson was penalised late on to allow Brighton and Hove Albion rescue a draw at the AMEX Stadium.
Left winger Diogo Jota’s ninth Liverpool goal seemed enough for the Reds to move three points clear of Tottenham at the top of the Premiership, but it was not to be.
An outstretched Robertson foot clipped Danny Welbeck and, though referee Stuart Attwell initially did not see the infringement, he consulted with the pitch-side monitor and awarded a spot-kick.
Unlike the Frenchman Neal Maupay, who wasted a chance from 12 yards to let Liverpool off the hook in the first half, Pascal Gross was clinical.
That VAR call was the third of the game against Liverpool, as Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah and Senegalese striker Sadio Mane had goals rightly ruled out for offside by the technology.
The hosts should have taken the lead in the 10th minute, but Irish centre forward Aaron Connolly sliced wide in a one-on-one contest against Liverpool centurion keeper Alisson Becker.
Connolly made amends nine minutes later. His determined drive into the box to reach a flick from Malian central midfielder Yves Bissouma drew a clumsy tackle from Neco Williams. But, Maupay side-footed a dreadful penalty wide of the right-hand upright after sending Becker the wrong way.
An apparent hamstring injury three minutes later brought an end to a dreadful outing for Maupay. Salah appeared to have punished Brighton for wastefulness when he latched onto Roberto Firmino’s pass and lobbed Brighton keeper Mathew Ryan. But, VAR ruled the goal out for a marginal offside.
Klopp introduced central midfielder Jordan Henderson in the second period to help wrest control in the centre of the park, and the pressure told at the hour mark. The Portuguese Jota dispatched into the left-hand corner following Salah’s deft touch.
Substitutions on both sides did not appeal to those subbed off. Connolly was seething when he was replaced by Adam Lallana and Salah looked equally as infuriated after he made way for Mane.
The latter had the ball in the net in the 83rd minute with a fine header but the goal was disallowed by VAR. Liverpool play showed determination to clinch the points but all hopes of an away win evaporated in the closing moments.
Welbeck went to ground in the box from Robertson’s foot and, after VAR confirmation, Brighton were awarded their second spot-kick. Gross powered a cool finish down the middle to salvage a point.
In the end, Maupay went into the history books as the first player to start a Premier League game, miss a penalty, and be subbed off before half-time since Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp against Derby County in April 1998.
Liverpool’s next challenge is a crucial UEFA Champions League clash with Ajax on Tuesday. For Brighton, Southampton awaits in a south-coast derby on Monday, December 7.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
