Panel’s ruling on controversial penalty incident in Liverpool and Manchester City match

The Key Match Incidents panel has made a decision on the incident involving Jeremy Doku and Alexis Mac Allister during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

The Premier League title rivals played out a hotly-contested stalemate at Anfield earlier this month, keeping both sides behind Arsenal in the English top-flight table, with Mikel Arteta’s side travelling to the Etihad Stadium in the next outing.

John Stones put Manchester City ahead on Merseyside with a well-worked corner-kick routine, before an Ederson foul on Darwin Nunez presented Alexis Mac Allister with the opportunity to equalise from the spot, which the Argentine converted with ease.

While the game appeared to be heading towards a close, despite good opportunities for the likes of Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden, the former appeared – in the eyes of some – to have fouled goalscorer Mac Allister inside the Manchester City penalty area.

Despite the hosts’ best claims, and post-match frustration from manager Jurgen Klopp, Michael Oliver adjudged Doku to have claimed the ball fairly, waiving away penalty claims and ultimately signalling the end of the contest with the points shared.

Now, as per The Times this week, the Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel have ruled that on-field referee Oliver was correct not to give a penalty to Liverpool during the eventual 1-1 draw with Manchester City in early March when Jérémy Doku looked to have caught Alexis Mac Allister.

The verdict from the KMI panel read, “The panel were split (3:2) with the majority supporting the on-field no penalty decision. A genuine attempt to play the ball… with both players coming into contact with each other as a result.

“Doku is just about entitled to challenge for the ball and, despite making contact with Mac Allister’s chest, he makes contact with the ball. Two panelists felt that the on-field decision was incorrect and a penalty should have been awarded as ‘Mac Allister gets there first.”

The ruling continued, “‘Doku’s foot is high and makes clear contact with his studs on MacAllister’s chest’. The majority of the panel (4:1) supported the VAR’s decision to not intervene but one panelist felt the VAR was incorrect to not intervene for a clear and obvious error.”

Manchester City’s Premier League title showdowns continue after the ongoing international break, as they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium, with the winner of the contest putting down the ultimate statement of intent heading into the business end of the campaign.