FANS are demanding answers after Liverpool were denied an easy goal by one of the most mystifying decisions of the season.
Some viewers reckon referee Anthony Taylor “knew he messed up” as he made an odd incident even stranger late in a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
X @footballontntFans were puzzled by this exchange between Anthony Taylor and Alphonse Areola after the referee halted play to call on the physio[/caption]
The controversy began when home keeper Alphonse Areola tumbled to the ground after gathering a high ball under pressure.
Taylor responded by appearing to wave play on – as he raised his arm and jogged away.
Areola was then helped up by two players, before he threw the ball in front of him as if to take a free-kick.
The stopper even bent down to adjust his socks, with the ball now yards in front of him.
Reds’ attacker Cody Gakpo spotted his surprise opportunity – running back into the area to take possession.
But it was then that the watching Taylor blew up and strode back to Areola.
And it was also when keen-eyed viewers became even more bemused.
That’s because Taylor put his hand on the Areola, said a few words and signalled for West Ham‘s physio to come on.
MAKR HALSEY: WHY THE REF GOT IT RIGHT
THE Sun’s ex-Prem whistler gives his verdict on the controversy:
ANTHONY TAYLOR did NOT make a mistake by stopping Cody Gakpo from scoring what would have been one of the strangest and most controversial goals of the season.
Taylor spotted an infringement on West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola by Gakpo late on when the score was 2-2 and Liverpool were chasing a winner.
Referee Taylor saw the incident clearly but signalled play on by raising an arm. Areola went down injured, got up and then lets go of the ball thinking he has been awarded a free-kick.
Gakpo was about to score when Taylor saw what was happening and blew his whistle – but this was not an error. If advantage is signalled and no advantage follows then an official is allowed to go back and stop play.
Where Taylor did make a mistake however was by restarting play with a drop ball – it should have been a free-kick. This is what caused all the fuss.
It would have been better if Taylor had blown for a foul in the first place.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
The French keeper stretched his leg as if in pain, but fans blasted Taylor over the bizarre exchange.
The Sun’s ex-Prem whistler Mark Halsey insisted the ref was RIGHT.
Halsey believes Taylor spotted a foul on Areola and halted the action when the Hammers had no advantage.
But many viewers were less convinced – and, at the very least, were confused by what Taylor was signalling.
One fan went back to the start of the matter as he wrote: “He (Taylor) actually motions for the keeper to get up – makes it even worse.”
Another said: “Didn’t hear a whistle, ref just botched it. Classic Taylor messing up when it actually matters, smh.”
A third posted: “He actually motions for the keeper to get up – makes it even worse
A fourth argued: “Taylor only called the physio on because he knows he f***ed up.”
And a fifth hit out: “Like to see them explain this one!”
Another fan was equally curious over the end of the incident.
He wrote: “Want to hear what Taylor said to the keeper for the keeper to go from pulling his socks up to being injured.”
But a few viewers suggested the ideal response from Liverpool‘s Dutch raider would have been to slot the ball home to see if VAR intervened.
Such verdicts included: “Gakpo should have just put the ball in the net. Worst case scenario he would have been booked, but the goal could have stood.”
X @footballontntViewers noted Taylor appearing to wave play on rather than give a free-kick[/caption]