Chelsea fans are adamant that their team should have been awarded a penalty during their recent Premier League match against Liverpool, following the emergence of new footage showing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s challenge on Jadon Sancho. The controversial incident occurred at Anfield during Sunday’s game, with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side aiming for a place in the top three of the league.
The controversy surrounding the game began with a penalty awarded to Liverpool earlier on when Chelsea defender Levi Colwill was penalized for a foul on Curtis Jones inside the box. Mohamed Salah subsequently scored from the spot, giving Liverpool a 1-0 lead. However, tensions among Chelsea supporters rose when Alexander-Arnold’s later challenge on Sancho in Liverpool’s penalty area was not similarly penalized.
During the second half, Alexander-Arnold made a tackle on Sancho inside Liverpool’s box, but the referee did not initially award a penalty. Although the incident was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), no penalty was given, and the decision stood, much to the dismay of Chelsea fans. Many of them took to social media to voice their frustration, with one fan sharing an alternative angle of the challenge and claiming, “VAR didn’t even check Trent’s foul on Sancho.”
The incident quickly sparked heated discussions, with some fans accusing Liverpool of benefiting from VAR decisions. One fan coined the term “LiVARpool,” suggesting that Liverpool often finds itself on the favorable side of VAR reviews. The controversy was further fueled by comparisons between the two incidents, with many arguing that if Colwill’s foul was deemed worthy of a penalty, Alexander-Arnold’s challenge on Sancho should have been treated in the same way.
Despite the dispute, Chelsea managed to equalize early in the second half through a goal by Nicolas Jackson. However, Liverpool quickly responded, regaining the lead just three minutes later when Salah set up Curtis Jones to score and make it 2-1.
The match itself saw a mixed reaction from pundits, with Leon Osman criticizing Chelsea’s defensive setup during his commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, while Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, praised Curtis Jones for his standout performance and contribution to Liverpool’s win.
Although Liverpool emerged victorious, the debate over the penalty decision continues to rage among Chelsea supporters, many of whom feel that they were unjustly denied a crucial spot-kick. The incident has once again sparked broader conversations about the consistency of VAR decisions and their influence on pivotal moments in high-stakes matches like this one.