Liverpool receive Cody Gakpo penalty verdict after VAR decision

Liverpool are looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League following three consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United

Joe Cole and Steve McManaman sided with referee Simon Hooper over his decision not to award Liverpool a first half penalty. The Reds were left fuming after Cody Gakpo went to ground in the box, but Hooper waved away their appeals.

Liverpool soon found themselves 2-0 down in west London, with Kevin Schade netting Brentford's second. Milos Kerkez pulled one back for the visitors in added time of the first half.

Following the decision, which was checked by VAR, the official Premier League Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter) stated: "#BRELIV – 44' The referee's call of no penalty to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that there was no foul by Collins on Gakpo."

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Speaking about the penalty decision at half-time, TNT Sports pundits Cole and McManaman both believe the right decision was made on the field.

"No, he goes down too easy," Cole said. "He doesn't quite get there, he goes down too easy.

"He's waiting for the contact - I think it's the right decision."

Meanwhile, Reds icon McManaman added: "Yeah, I think so. As he puts his leg across, he doesn't stand on his foot and he's fallen over before the contact happens.

"I agree with the referee there."

"Collins is a lucky boy," Cole continued. "He just doesn't make enough contact. So he's a lucky boy."

Referee Simon Hooper was replaced at half-time by Tim Robinson after suffering a hamstring injury.

The Reds will aim to avoid a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat before hosting Crystal Palace (Carabao Cup), Aston Villa (Premier League), and Real Madrid (Champions League) in a trio of home fixtures.

Addressing the fixture congestion, Slot said last week: "Sunday starts a run of seven games in 21 days.

"Players like [Alexis] Mac Allister and Conor Bradley need to be brought back gradually.

"You can't go from no playing time to three games a week. That's why we've made changes. Every team in the world with such a schedule needs more than 11 players. If you rotate and win, it’s smart.

"If you rotate and lose, people say you should have played the same team. That’s football. For certain positions, it’s almost impossible to play every game without risk of injury."

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