Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher admitted his former side were lucky with the winning penalty in Girona on Tuesday.
Liverpool continued their perfect start in the Champions League after Mohamed Salah converted a penalty as former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek was adjudicated for fouling Luis Diaz in the penalty area, giving the Reds a 1-0 win.
The penalty was only awarded after referee Benoit Bastien reviewed the incident on the field monitor during a VAR review. Salah then fired the ball past Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga to give Liverpool their sixth consecutive European win under Slot.
However, Carragher did not think Liverpool should have received the penalty in the first place and called the decision “very harsh”. On CBS Sports' coverage of the Champions League, he said: “I don't think it's a penalty.
“I think it's very harsh. We've talked about decisions in this competition over the years and the penalties I see being given in the Champions League, I would be very angry if they were given against me.
“At first I didn't see anything in it. The boot is off, but it doesn't affect him in any way in terms of a foul. I don't even think it's harsh, I just don't think it's a penalty. You sees how disappointed Van De Beek is there, and rightly so.”
Arsenal legend and fellow CBS pundit Thierry Henry agreed with Carragher's comments, adding: “That wasn't a penalty. If Jamie says it wasn't a penalty, we don't even have to see it, (if) Liverpool man. It wasn't actually a penalty.”
Girona boss Michel also admitted he “never liked” penalties being awarded in similar circumstances. “When I saw him take off his boot, I said I was going to call the penalty,” he said.
“It doesn't really hit him, but before these situations were not mentioned in football. Now they are and this is the reality of VAR.
“I never liked these situations, but they decided it was a penalty and that was it. There is no other option.”
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