Mike Dean Supports Liverpool Penalty Decision Amid Controversy
During the first half at the Vitality Stadium, referee Darren England awarded Liverpool a penalty after Cody Gakpo went down in the box, ruling that Lewis Cook had clipped him.
The decision immediately sparked debate, with some replays suggesting Gakpo may have tripped himself, while other angles appeared to show contact from Cook. Despite the controversy, VAR upheld the call, and Mohamed Salah confidently converted the penalty, marking his 20th Premier League goal of the season.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean, speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, backed England’s decision. He stated at 15:28, “There’s definitely a clip there,” reinforcing the view that the penalty was justified.
While the call remains a topic of discussion among fans and pundits, Dean’s assessment supports the referee’s original ruling, adding to the ongoing debate over VAR’s role in officiating key moments.
Debate Continues as Salah Converts Controversial Penalty
The controversy surrounding Liverpool’s penalty at the Vitality Stadium continued as Mohamed Salah calmly slotted his spot kick past Kepa Arrizabalaga, silencing the home crowd—who responded with chants of “1-0 to the referee.”
Journalists Paul Gorst and Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo suggested that the penalty was a soft one, with at least one camera angle casting doubt on the decision. However, a key detail in the incident was that Lewis Cook did not protest the call, which could indicate that he accepted the referee’s decision.
Regardless of the controversy, Salah still had a point to prove, having missed a crucial penalty in a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth two seasons ago. This time, he made no mistake, redeeming himself for that costly miss in March 2023.
With Liverpool leading 1-0 at the time of writing, securing all three points on the south coast would feel like a massive victory for Jürgen Klopp’s side.
