🚨😱 The Premier League FA has explained the reason why referee decided to give Southampton the penalty outside the box. This doesn’t even make sense..!
Liverpool resumed their Premier League campaign with a dramatic and contentious match against Southampton. A pivotal moment came in the 40th minute when Andrew Robertson’s challenge on Tyler Dibling resulted in a penalty for Southampton. Replays suggested the foul took place outside the penalty area, fueling significant debate.
Earlier in the game, Southampton had taken the lead thanks to a stunning strike from Dominik Szoboszlai in the 30th minute. The Hungarian midfielder, using his weaker foot, scored his second goal for Liverpool, following his first in the 3-1 EFL Cup win over West Ham. His recent performances hint at a resurgence in form.
Controversy deepened when Robertson was involved in another disputed incident, where a Southampton player went down after contact. Video evidence appeared to confirm the foul occurred outside the box, but referee Michael Oliver stood by his decision, citing “no conclusive evidence” to overturn the penalty call after a VAR review.
The Premier League Match Centre later released a statement, clarifying that both VAR and Oliver agreed the incident took place inside the area. Despite this, Caoimhin Kelleher initially saved Adam Armstrong’s penalty, but the Irish goalkeeper was unable to block the rebound, allowing Southampton to equalize before half-time.
In the second half, Southampton regained the lead in the 56th minute through Mateus Fernandes. Liverpool, however, responded swiftly. Mohamed Salah capitalized on a goalkeeping error in the 65th minute to equalize and later secured a 3-2 victory by converting a penalty in the 83rd minute.
This hard-fought win extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who endured a 4-0 loss to Tottenham. Liverpool now shifts focus to their UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid at Anfield, aiming to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition.
Meanwhile, footage of Robertson’s controversial tackle, which led to Southampton’s penalty equalizer, continues to circulate, adding fuel to the ongo
ing debate.
