Liverpool’s win over Newcastle was overshadowed by a controversial refereeing decision that saw Mohamed Salah denied what looked like a clear penalty. The Egyptian forward went down in the box after a challenge from Lewis Hall, but instead of pointing to the spot, referee Stuart Atwell awarded a free-kick to Newcastle, leaving Salah and the Anfield crowd stunned.
Replays showed Hall making contact with Salah, sparking debate among pundits and fans. TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist weighed in, saying, “I think Salah does get fouled, but it’s whether he fouls Hall initially.” However, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett backed the referee’s decision, stating that Salah had initiated contact.
Despite the controversy, Liverpool dominated the game, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister sealing the victory. Salah and Luis Diaz both missed opportunities to extend the lead, but the Reds still widened their gap at the top of the Premier League table to 13 points, with Arsenal held to a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.
With Liverpool now out of the FA Cup, Jürgen Klopp’s squad will have an extended break before shifting focus to their Champions League last-16 showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.
