‘On another day…’ – Ex-PGMOL chief says Liverpool were ‘fortunate’ with one decision on Sunday

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Kickjolly · AI-written · automatically reviewed · Empire of the Kop ↗

Former PGMOL chief executive Keith Hackett believes Liverpool's Trey Nyoni was 'fortunate' to avoid a yellow card for a foul on Martin Odegaard in the first minute of their match against Arsenal. Hackett described the challenge as 'reckless' and felt that Nyoni 'raked his studs down the Achilles' of Odegaard. He stated that the laws of the game apply at any minute, and a yellow card was the minimum punishment. Hackett considered it a close call, giving Nyoni 'slight benefit of the doubt' for mistiming.

Nyoni also avoided a yellow card for a subsequent foul on Kai Havertz. The Empire of the Kop acknowledges that Nyoni probably should have been booked for the Odegaard challenge, but suggests a word of warning from the referee might have sufficed. They speculate that a yellow card might have changed Nyoni's behavior, potentially leading to an earlier substitution by Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola.

The article distinguishes between Nyoni's luck and Liverpool's complaint about a separate incident where Jurrien Timber allegedly shirt-tugged Alexander Isak in the penalty area. Liverpool were unhappy with the lack of a penalty call, with Steven Gerrard calling it 'an absolute embarrassment.' The article concludes that two wrongs don't make a right and that football stakeholders are right to demand higher officiating standards.