Referee Andy Madley and VAR have taken centre stage during Liverpool’s visit to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with more controversial penalty decisions sure to dominate the evening’s headlines.
There was good news for Liverpool prior to kick-off, with the welcome return of Alisson in goal for the Reds. The Brazilian had been missing after sustaining a muscle strain against Manchester City in late November, but his comeback was greeted with plenty of positivity.
Inevitably though, it’s the officials under the spotlight, with the ongoing debate of what constitutes a clear and obvious error raging in the crowd, commentary gantry and, most importantly, on social media.
A welcome sight for Liverpool fans with Alisson back between the sticks for them against Crystal Palace. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/HxvMswH6ol
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 9, 2023
Alisson being back so early is killing me, Klopp is shook with Kelleher
— 🥷🏿 (@Bk8iP3) December 9, 2023
And Liverpool’s shot-stopper proved his worth just before the 30-minute mark, producing a truly astonishing save to keep out Jefferson Lerma’s close-range effort. Jurgen Klopp will certainly be pleased to have the 31-year-old back.
Alisson Becker is the greatest goalkeeper I have ever seen.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) December 9, 2023
Save of the season!!! Alisson is unbelievable!!!
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) December 9, 2023
Alisson every single week pic.twitter.com/hDBfse7OL1
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) December 9, 2023
Just moments after Alisson’s wonder save, Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty, Virgil van Dijk felling Odsonne Edouard in the area. However, there was a pretty clear foul on Wataru Endo in the build-up to the decision, with referee Andy Madley eventually reversing the call after a lengthy delay and VAR check.
It did NOT need that long to decide that it was NOT a penalty, Jesus man why do they need so long 😂😂😂😂😂
— Liam 💫 (@LiamMLFC) December 9, 2023
That’s a foul on Endo by Hughes. Wraps his right leg around him and tugs the shirt. Given LFC are a title rival, I’d much rather see the penalty given but we can’t keep bleating on about poor decisions & ignoring the ones that suit us.
— Harry Symeou (@HarrySymeou) December 9, 2023
Amazing how many times he has to look at it while he tries to find a way to allow the penalty.
— Jimmy Ho-Ho-Hell (@SeeingRedv2) December 9, 2023
Despite the VAR drama, the game would enter half-time goalless, with Liverpool more than a little ponderous in the opening 45 minutes. Knowing a win would take them top, the Reds needed to step it up at Selhurst Park.
No penalty. Liverpool need to improve here.
— – (@JoshLFC1909) December 9, 2023
Come on Liverpool we’re better than this.
— Wozza * (@redwozza) December 9, 2023
Crystal Palace were denied a penalty in the first half, but they were gifted a rather remarkable one early in the second.
Despite the game having continued for 105 seconds after Jarell Quansah’s challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta in the box, Madley was asked by VAR to take a look at the decision, stopping the game and eventually awarding the spot-kick to the Eagles.
A truly bizarre situation that is seldom seen in the Premier League.
So you can stop play and go back two minutes to award a penalty but you can’t stop the game to give an actual goal that’s already been given by the VAR. Great.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) December 9, 2023
Ridiculous penalty decision. #CRYLIV
— José Mourinho (@josemourinhotv) December 9, 2023
On the one hand, if it takes VAR that long, it’s not a clear and obvious error. On the other hand, it’s the most obvious penalty of all time. #CRYLIV
— Frankie Boyle Updates (@frankieboyle) December 9, 2023
Game resumed and called back for a penalty several minutes later yet against Spurs they couldn’t call it back for a goal for Liverpool. Make sense of that.
— Bernard (@bernardpj) December 9, 2023
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