Liverpool’s opening goal was allowed because VAR Tony Harrington decided Trent Alexander-Arnold did not deliberately handle the ball.
The YEP understands that the view in Stockley Park was that the Reds man did not intend to play the ball with his arm, before running into the area to tee up Cody Gakpo for a 1-0 lead.
Junior Firpo attempted to knock the ball past Alexander-Arnold, only for the visitor to block it with his elbow. The Liverpool player appeared to move his arm towards the ball. The goal was checked but allowed to stand by VAR.
Firpo was seen asking referee Craig Pawson for an explanation at half-time as the teams lined up in the tunnel.
Liverpool took a 2-0 lead four minutes later when a Weston McKennie mistake was ruthlessly punished, Jota setting up Mo Salah who fired a finish past Illan Meslier at his near post.
Up until the first goal Leeds had looked comfortable, despite their visitors enjoying the lion’s share of possession. Leeds did carry a threat on the break and created the better chances. But the opener changed the game entirely and the Whites have a mountain to climb now.
Why Liverpool’s first goal against Leeds United was NOT ruled out for handball
Liverpool opened the scoring against Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday night, but the goal wasn’t without controversy.
Cody Gakpo was at the back post to slot into an open goal as Trent Alexander-Arnold surged forward to find the Dutchman inside the box.
Alexander-Arnold charged down a defender earlier in the move when the ball was struck against his forearm, but VAR didn’t reverse the on-field decision to reward a goal by referee Craig Pawson.
The ECHO was told by PGMOL sources that the incident was checked, but the VAR deemed that it was not a deliberate handball. Gakpo’s goal stood to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in West Yorkshire.
Jamie Carragher spoke about the incident in the Monday Night Football studio: “There’s no doubt [his arm] moves out. Whether that’s because the ball is there or that was naturally where his arm was going to go…I think it could have gone either way. No doubt about that.”
Liverpool added a second goal shortly after as Mohamed Salah found the back of the Leeds net for his eighth goal in six games against the Yorkshiremen. The score was 2-0 to the Reds at half time.