Ref Watch: Were Aston Villa denied penalties at Liverpool?

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher is back to assess the controversial moments from the weekend’s action.

Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

INCIDENT: Villa wanted a penalty for Ibrahima Konate’s challenge on Ollie Watkins.

DERMOT SAYS: I always think there are three decisions to make. Penalty, dive or do nothing. The ref created a fourth one for giving a foul against Watkins. I think ‘do nothing’ was the best option.

SUE SAYS: I thought it was good defending. Shoulder to shoulder. I don’t think it was a foul either way.

INCIDENT: Did Darwin Nunez’s goal against Aston Villa save Leon Bailey from being sent off for a challenge on Mohamed Salah?

DERMOT SAYS: If I was a referee, the minute Salah got clipped I’d blow my whistle. I’d be in control of the situation. I can justify stopping the game because I’m going to send him off. The referee does not think it’s a foul for whatever reason – he says ‘no foul’ twice. If Martinez had knocked that out for a corner, VAR could have recommended a review. If he’d played advantage, they couldn’t have.

A lucky ref – because Nunez has scored.

INCIDENT: Villa wanted a penalty for Conor Bradley’s shirt pull on Pau Torres.

SUE SMITH SAYS: I don’t think there’s enough in it. Is it for a prolonged period? I don’t think there’s enough to bring somebody down.

Brentford 3-2 Bournemouth

INCIDENT: Bournemouth’s Evanilson goes down in the box – Pinnock appears to clip his ankle before he trips himself up.

DERMOT SAYS: I don’t think it’s a penalty. When you’re looking at that so microscopically, 100 per cent it’s not going to VAR because it’s not a clear and obvious error.

WARNOCK SAYS: This is one of the most infuriating ones. Why’s he going to clip his own heel? There’s got to be contact from somewhere. Anywhere else on the pitch, the ref gives it. But in the box, they go ‘It’s too soft to give a penalty’. The defender has got himself in the wrong position, he’s made him clip his heels. Absolutely [VAR should get involved].

INCIDENT: Collins goes down in the box after contact with Kerkez. No penalty was awarded.

DERMOT SAYS: Physical contact but I’d be very surprised if this was a foul.

WARNOCK SAYS: It’s really good defending at the back post.