In a crucial encounter between Liverpool and Arsenal, a pivotal moment transpired that left Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher perplexed on behalf of Liverpool. The incident revolved around Martin Odegaard of Arsenal and a potential handball that escaped the notice of match officials. Gabriel Magalhaes had earlier secured Arsenal’s lead with a header from Odegaard’s free-kick.
Midway through the first half, controversy ensued as Mohamed Salah’s attempt flicked onto Odegaard’s hand, seemingly warranting a penalty. Referee Chris Kavanagh overlooked the handball, enabling Arsenal to launch a counter-attack. Despite VAR involvement led by David Coote, the decision not to award Liverpool a penalty persisted. Gary Neville, despite his ties to Manchester United, acknowledged Odegaard’s stroke of luck.
At halftime, Sky Sports unveiled the official explanation from PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), asserting that the incident didn’t meet the criteria for a “clear and obvious error.” The explanation clarified that Odegaard’s arm was reportedly moving towards his body rather than the ball as he went down.
Despite the contentious decision, Liverpool mounted a comeback before halftime, with Salah scoring a remarkable solo goal in the 29th minute. This set the stage for a crucial second half in the high-stakes clash at the top of the table.
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