Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League at the last-16 stage after their penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but Jamie Carragher was left perplexed prior to the spot-kicks.
Jamie Carragher claimed Liverpool were initially on the back foot against PSG following a contentious coin toss.
On Wednesday evening, the Reds were defeated by their French opponents, who won on penalties following a 1-0 victory. Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones both missed for Liverpool, but Mohamed Salah scored the only goal for the hosts.
But Carragher was perplexed by the pre-penalty shootout exchange between Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, PSG captain Marquinhos, and the referee. A coin was flipped, and the French team won, opting to take the penalties at the Anfield Road end of the stadium.
But, surprisingly, PSG went up to take the first penalty of the shootout, which Vitinha brilliantly converted. Speaking about it, Carragher said: “One thing I couldn’t figure out with the penalties was that there was obviously a coin toss with Virgil van Dijk [PSG’s captain].
“PSG must have won it to carry it to the opposite end [away from the Kop], but they also took the first penalty. So I wasn’t sure what had happened there. Typically, only one advantage is granted, with the opposing team receiving the first penalty. However, PSG deserved to advance.
Carragher was initially perplexed by Liverpool’s double deficit against PSG, but former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg quickly clarified the situation. Speaking on commentary, he stated, “I think Liverpool would love it at the Kop, but it’s up to the referee.”
“It is up to the referee to decide which side of the coin it is. It will be one side for one side of the coin and the opposite side of the pitch for the other.
“The captains will then make a decision, and if he is the lucky one, he will choose between taking the first and second penalties. However, the referee will decide which end it will be on the first coin toss.
Clattenburg was then asked if the police had the authority to relocate the fines owing to probable conflict between the opposing groupings of supporters. And he suggested that they did, but because there was no enmity between the stands, the end was unlikely to be shifted just seconds before kickoff.
PSG fans took full advantage of the decision. One French fan was heard shouting through a megaphone in support of his team, while booing and playing a siren as Liverpool players came up to take their own efforts.
