Gallagher reacts to ‘tough’ Alexander-Arnold controversy in Liverpool v Leicester
Trent Alexander-Arnold was the difference as Liverpool beat Leicester 1-0 on Sunday.
The Reds took another step towards the Premier League title with the victory at the King Power Stadium on 20 April.
The 26-year-old came on with 19 minutes remaining in the contest and struck the winning goal just five minutes later to spark jubilant scenes in the away end.
The Liverpudlian, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, split emotions with his celebrations as some believed it was evidence that he was staying and others thought it was a goodbye gesture.
Gallagher reacts to Alexander-Arnold call
The hosts surrounded the referee, appealing for Alexander-Arnold’s goal to be ruled out for a head injury suffered by Luke Thomas in the build-up.
However, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that the call to give the goal was the correct decision.
Speaking on Sky Sports (21 April, 11:22 am), he said: “Tough call for the referee if he thinks it’s a head injury.
“But firstly, the player collides with his own goalkeeper. If that happens and the ball is not recycled very quickly, he had no idea that could have been a head injury.
“The alternative is if the referee stops the game there, they have to start with a drop ball to the goalkeeper.
“Unless he’s convinced it’s a head injury, he has to play on.”
Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold take a step closer to glory
It would have been a ludicrous decision to disallow the strike, as it was Mads Hermansen, the Foxes goalkeeper, who collided with his player.
We have seen a rise in players faking head injuries to force a referee to stop a promising attack, so the referee had to be completely sure, as Gallagher says.
If he were not sure, he has to give the goal and that is what happened on this occasion and it would have arguably been more controversial had he ruled it out.
The result means that Arne Slot‘s side need just one win to secure the league title, a second in five years and more importantly, a 20th overall, which puts the Anfield outfit level with arch-rivals Manchester United.
They will also win it if Crystal Palace beat Arsenal on Wednesday (23 April) as the Gunners would not be able to catch them if they fall to defeat at the Emirates.
It will be Alexander-Arnold’s second title with his boyhood club, and if it is the end of his career on Merseyside, it would be a fitting one, given that he could celebrate it with supporters this time, something that the L4 outfit were denied last time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.