Liverpool receives ‘lucky’ referee ruling following Mohamed Salah incident versus Newcastle.
Lewis Hall was ‘lucky’ not to give a third-minute penalty after a skirmish with Mohamed Salah in Newcastle United’s penalty box, according to Ally McCoist. Instead, a free kick was awarded against the Liverpool attacker, much to the dismay of his teammates.
With the Reds facing the Magpies at Anfield in the Premier League as a preview of next month’s Carabao Cup final, the game got off to a flying start. However, before Liverpool took the lead with a Dominik Szoboszlai goal after 11 minutes, there was an even earlier incident involving Salah that proved quite problematic.
A slow build-up was eventually hastened by a line-breaking Trent Alexander-Arnold through pass, rushed towards by the Egyptian on the right-hand flank. As he did so, a tussle with opposite full-back Hall began.
With arms involved attempting to out-strengthen their opponent, Salah looked to have won the battle as the Newcastle man went to ground. His outstretched arm then tripped the No.11 before he could attempt a shot or cross, though referee Stuart Attwell decided for the initial contact the visitors were deserving of a free-kick.
“I believe Salah is fouled, but it is unclear whether he fouled Hall first. He sticks his arm out to prevent him from [running through]. He might have given the free kick early on there. Whatever way you look at it, they could be a little fortunate, Newcastle,” said McCoist, who was commentating for TNT Sports.
“He had an arm on him outside the box, but I’m with you – I don’t think it was enough to give a free kick,” he said when analysis partner Darren Fletcher questioned what the winger did wrong.
The incident was revisited by the pair twice more. McCoist then outright suggested Attwell had got the call wrong, saying after seeing the initial tussle on a replay: “That’s why he gives it. I’m with you, I’m only trying to explain why the referee perhaps got it wrong.”
For the final time, speaking from a Newcastle perspective, the Scotsman concluded: “Like I say, I thought it was very fortunate.”
