The Premier League has issued an official clarification regarding the controversial moment in Liverpool’s recent clash against Brentford — specifically, the decision not to award a penalty when Cody Gakpo went down inside the box. The incident, which occurred late in the first half, sparked debate among fans and pundits, but the league has now explained why the referee’s original call stood after VAR review.
During the match, Gakpo appeared to be brought down by a Brentford defender while attempting to cut inside from the left flank. Liverpool players immediately appealed for a penalty, but referee Simon Hooper waved play on. Moments later, replays broadcast during the halftime analysis revealed that there had been little to no contact between Gakpo and the Brentford defender, Nathan Collins. This prompted the Premier League’s Match Center to release a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), clarifying the reasoning behind the decision.
According to the statement, “The referee’s decision not to award a penalty to Liverpool was reviewed and upheld by VAR, concluding that Collins did not foul Gakpo.” In other words, officials determined that Gakpo had gone to ground too easily and that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field referee’s decision. This explanation aimed to settle the growing controversy surrounding the incident, which had divided opinions across fanbases.
Just minutes after the penalty appeal was dismissed, Brentford capitalized on their momentum. Kevin Schade doubled the Bees’ lead with an impressive solo effort, racing past Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté before calmly slotting the ball beyond goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The goal left Liverpool stunned and struggling to regain control of the match.
As the first half drew to a close, Liverpool managed to pull one back through Milos Kerkez, who finished neatly after a sustained spell of pressure. However, the drama didn’t end there. During the halftime break, it was confirmed that referee Simon Hooper had sustained an injury and would be unable to continue officiating. As a result, fourth official Tim Robinson took charge for the second half.
The second period brought further controversy when Brentford were awarded a penalty following a challenge by Virgil van Dijk on Dango Ouattara. Initially, Robinson signaled for a free kick just outside the box, but VAR once again intervened to review the incident. After examining the footage, officials determined that the contact had occurred on the line — meaning it should be classified as a penalty. Brentford forward Igor Thiago then stepped up and converted the spot-kick with confidence, restoring his team’s two-goal cushion and sealing a frustrating night for Liverpool.
The match ultimately highlighted once again the fine margins of VAR decisions and the growing scrutiny on Premier League referees.
