Dominik Szoboszlai’s challenge on Alejandro Garnacho was checked and confirmed not to be a penalty by VAR during Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea
Scott Trotter Sports Writer and Isaac Seelochan Senior Sports Journalist
19:42, 04 Oct 2025
Alejandro Garnacho (Image: (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))
Gary Neville believes Anthony Taylor was right not to give Chelsea a penalty against Liverpool after Alejandro Garnacho went down under Dominik Szoboszlai’s challeng. The winger seemed to hurl himself to the turf after sensing contact from the Reds midfielder.
But despite the appeals, no penalty was awarded, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca received a booking for his complaints after both the referee and VAR determined the contact wasn’t substantial enough for a penalty.
However, former Manchester United defender Neville believed the Italian boss’s objections were unfounded.
OPINION
OPINION
Speaking on commentary on Sky Sports, he said: “He had a great, great position, Anthony Taylor. He was watching it. That’s not a penalty.
“He’s got it absolutely spot on. There’s a little bit of a tussle but that’s definitely not a penalty. In fact, at the end he throws himself to the ground.
“He’s watching it. He sees exactly what happens. I know sometimes they get it wrong but he (Maresca) just needs to calm down, relax. I don’t know who is feeding him telling him it’s a penalty.”
The Premier League clarified their stance on the Match Centre account, stating: “The referee’s call of no penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact from Szoboszlai on Garnacho deemed to be minimal.”
And former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said: “From a distance I didn’t think it was anywhere close to a penalty kick. When you see it again with the replays and slow motion, surprise, surprise, there is a little shove on Garnacho’s back.
“Had he given it first time they wouldn’t have changed it. It seemed harsh to give a penalty kick for that.”
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