The Premier League draw between Manchester United and Liverpool didn't pass without controversy, at least as far as home fans were concerned, but former referee Dermot Gallagher has dismissed their complaints about the visitors' equaliser.
United overturned a half-time deficit to lead going into the final 10 minutes, only for Mohamed Salah to equalise from the penalty spot. The spoils were ultimately shared, but some were left fuming at the decision to award a penalty for Aaron Wan-Bissaka's challenge on Harvey Elliott.
While Wan-Bissaka got nothing on the ball after going to ground, it appeared he didn't catch Elliott until the follow-through. This didn't go down well with United fans on social media, with one saying: "The three penalties against United in last two matches are nothing but scandalous."
Another called the penalty decision "absolutely shocking", while a third argued "It is crystal clear on the replay the contact doesn’t constitute a foul". However, Gallagher - a Premier League referee for more than a decade - shut down the complaints.
"I think penalty," Gallagher said on Sky Sports' Ref Watch. "If you make a challenge like this. The expectation from me was penalty. People say 'is there a lot of contact?'. Well he dives in, he definitely makes contact.
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"People will say 'Has Elliott initiated contact?'. I think he's just stood his ground. My expectation was penalty and he gave it and I think the decision is right."
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock agreed, describing the fans' reaction as 'baffling'. "One thing we always talk about is the reaction of the player," Warnock said. "Wan-Bissaka doesn't argue it, no Manchester United player does. They all know it was a stonewall penalty."
Was Anthony Taylor right to award a penalty? Have your say in the comments section
Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot (CameraSport via Getty Images)It was the second time in as many games that United conceded a crucial late penalty. Cole Palmer converted his second spot-kick of the evening in the 10th added minute when United took on Chelsea on Thursday, but Ten Hag said there was a difference between the incidents.
"Again, we give a certain win out of our hands by making, let's say, not a very clever mistake there, like on Thursday and like last Saturday [against Brentford]," the Dutchman said.. "And we lose seven points in one week, where we should have had nine points.
"It was similar on Thursday but, on Thursday, it wasn't a penalty. I wanted to see if it was a penalty [this time] but it was the right decision. I can't disagree with that."
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