MX23RW : Monday, May 6 12:18:02| >> :120:15479:15479:
[monks data]
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 18
Dec 23, 2023 at 5.30pm UK
Anfield
Arsenal logo

Liverpool
1 - 1
Arsenal

Salah (29')
Endo (45+3'), Salah (84')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Magalhaes (4')
Saka (38'), Havertz (45+4'), Rice (49'), Nketiah (86'), White (90+1')

Howard Webb admits Liverpool should have had penalty for Odegaard handball

Howard Webb admits Liverpool should have had penalty for Odegaard handball
© Reuters
Howard Webb admits that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for Martin Odegaard's handball in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on December 23.

PGMOL Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has admitted that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for Martin Odegaard's handball in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on December 23.

Jurgen Klopp's side were denied the chance to top the table on Christmas Day due to their stalemate with the Gunners, who took the lead through Gabriel Magalhaes before Mohamed Salah drew the Reds level.

However, Arsenal survived a major scare in the first half, where the ball struck the arm of captain Odegaard with his hand planted into the ground inside the penalty area, leading to vehement calls for a penalty.

Neither on-field referee Chris Kavanagh nor VAR official David Coote saw fit to award a spot kick, though, with the former justifying the decision by stating that Odegaard's hand was on the floor.

Meanwhile, Coote argued that not giving a penalty was the correct decision given that Odegaard was falling to the floor and trying to move his arm into his body, and he was backed up by assistant VAR Lee Betts.

Arsenal's Kai Havertz in action with Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate on December 23, 2023© Reuters

However, speaking with ex-Liverpool striker on Premier League Productions programme Match Officials: Mic'd Up, Webb conceded that the Reds should have been given a penalty, claiming that Odegaard gained a "huge advantage" by bringing his arm towards the ball.

After Owen claimed that he would expect a penalty in that situation, Webb replied: "So do I. The referee on the field recognized that Odegaard had slipped and saw his arm go towards the ground.

"We talk about 'supporting arms'. If somebody falls, breaks their fall with the arm, it's all very natural and a pretty well-established concept. In this situation. though, there's an important difference to a normal play that's falling.

"This is not just Odegaard accidentally falling on to the ball. He does slip, his arm does go out, but he actually pulls his arm back in towards his body, which is when the ball makes contact with the arm.

"The VAR looked at that aspect. He felt it was a case of Odegaard trying to make himself actually smaller by bringing the arm back towards the body. That is the element that's important here.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring against Arsenal on December 23, 2023© Reuters

"Whether it's instinctive or deliberate, he gets a huge advantage by bringing the arm back towards the ball. All the feedback we got afterwards was very clear. This is one that didn't reach the right outcome on that basis."

Liverpool were already on the wrong end of one catastrophic officiating error at the end of September, when a Luis Diaz goal against Tottenham Hotspur was incorrectly ruled out for offside in a 2-1 defeat.

After the linesman's flag went up, Darren England in Stockley Park failed to realise that the goal had been ruled out on the field, quickly issuing a "check complete" after seeing that Diaz was clearly onside.

The PGMOL admitted to a "significant human error" over the incident at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Liverpool have since come up trumps in North London, sinking Arsenal 2-0 in their FA Cup third-round tie on January 7.

The Reds have also taken advantage of the Gunners' loss of form to establish a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, and they return to action against Bournemouth on Sunday.

ID:534031:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5406:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Howard Webb

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Game History

How you voted: Liverpool vs Arsenal

Liverpool
45.2%
Draw
22.1%
Arsenal
32.7%
321
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Luis Diaz scores a goal that is later disallowed on September 30, 2023
Read Next:
Howard Webb "disappointed" with VAR howler over disallowed Luis Diaz goal
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!