The match between Liverpool and Arsenal caused controversy when Odegaard “played basketball” in the penalty area but the referee did not give the home team a penalty.

The most notable match of round 18 of the Premier League between Liverpool and Arsenal ended with a score of 1-1. The away team soon opened the scoring thanks to midfielder Gabriel, but Salah equalized the score in the first half with a solo masterpiece in the penalty area.One of the most controversial situations in this match was when Liverpool did not receive a penalty in the 19th minute. The home team was awarded a free kick and Arnold’s shot was not good so it was blocked by the Arsenal defender. Salah tried to control the situation and the ball hit Martin Odegaard straight in the hand in the penalty area.

The situation happened quite quickly and referee Chris Kavanagh did not have time to understand what happened. The linesman did not raise the flag and the match continued. Afterwards, the VAR team and referee Kavanagh agreed that it was not a hand contact situation, so there was no video review at all. Therefore, Liverpool did not receive a penalty.Fans are wondering why Arsenal had such a miraculous “escape”. Odegaard’s hands are in an abnormal state and increase the area of his body. This player even has the reflex to move his hands away from his body to block the ball. The Danish midfielder’s posture in this situation is very similar to that of a basketball player.

Odegaard’s teammate Saliba himself also admitted after the match. “It was a clear penalty. Luckily I’m not the referee. We have to accept that.” Meanwhile, coach Jurgen Klopp was so bored that he turned the “sad” story into a joke.“I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but I watched the video again. I think everyone agrees it was a penalty situation. Now I’m waiting to see how former referee Dermot Gallagher (commentator on Sky Sports) will explain this situation. He always finds a reason why there are no penalties.

I don’t understand why either. Everyone can see that the ball has been touched in the penalty area. I think there is no need to know much expertise to make a judgment on that situation.”Meanwhile, the British arbitration governing body (PGMOL) gave an explanation for this issue a few hours later. “It’s not necessarily Odegaard’s fault when this player’s arm is trying to retract rather than extend while kneeling.”This is not the first time Liverpool has been pressured this season. Previously, they were denied a valid goal by Luis Diaz when playing Tottenham due to an incorrect offside call by the referee team.