Former head of the PGMOL, Keith Hackett, has provided his professional assessment of the controversial refereeing decisions that overshadowed Liverpool’s 3–2 defeat to Brentford, explaining why the Reds were denied a penalty in the first half despite strong appeals.
Liverpool entered the match hoping to halt a poor run of form, but their frustrations only deepened at the Gtech Community Stadium as Brentford claimed victory in a game defined by contentious officiating moments.
The Bees took control early, with Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade giving them a two-goal lead before Milos Kerkezpulled one back for Liverpool just before halftime. A second-half penalty from Igor Thiago restored Brentford’s advantage, and although Mohamed Salah scored late on, it wasn’t enough to prevent a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat for Arne Slot’s side.
The Controversial Moment
The key talking point came midway through the first half when Cody Gakpo appeared to be tripped by Nathan Collinsinside the penalty area. Liverpool players immediately appealed, but referee Simon Hooper waved play on — a decision later confirmed by VAR, who found no clear evidence of a foul.
The VAR explanation stated:
“The referee’s call of no penalty to Liverpool was checked and confirmed — it was deemed there was no foul by Collins on Gakpo.”
The ruling caused uproar among Liverpool supporters, particularly after Brentford were awarded a penalty later in the game for Virgil van Dijk’s challenge on Ouattara, a call that many deemed inconsistent.
Keith Hackett Defends the Officials
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett backed the match officials’ handling of the incident, insisting that the right decision was made:
“Referee Simon Hooper was in an excellent position to judge if there was any contact worthy of a penalty. Frankly, there was no clear evidence of contact, and without that, VAR was correct not to intervene. When referees are close to the action, their decisions carry more credibility. Without clear proof of contact, a penalty should not be given.”
Liverpool’s Next Steps
Despite the controversy, Liverpool must now regroup quickly as they prepare for their Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace in midweek, followed by a Premier League encounter against Aston Villa at Anfield on November 1.
With pressure mounting and decisions seemingly going against them, Arne Slot’s men will need a response — both in performance and mentality — to reignite their season and put an end to their worrying run of defeats.