In the dying moments of a riveting match, Jeremy Doku escaped penalty controversy despite a high tackle on Alexis Mac Allister, deemed by VAR as ‘played in a reasonable position.’
As the clock ticked into the eighth minute of added time, Doku’s forceful tackle connected with Mac Allister’s chest, sparking concerns among pundits regarding the potential repercussions for the Manchester City winger.
The highly anticipated clash between Liverpool and Manchester City concluded in a 1-1 draw, with title-contending Arsenal finishing the weekend at the summit of the table.
John Stones had opened the scoring for City, but a second-half penalty converted by Argentine midfielder Mac Allister provided Liverpool with a route back into the game.
Commenting on the controversial incident, Gary Neville remarked, ‘He’s a lucky, lucky boy’ in reference to Doku’s tackle.
Outrage and Controversy Among Fans
Fans, both from Liverpool and neutral observers, were swift to express their shock and frustration over the non-award of a penalty for Doku’s tackle on Mac Allister.
Many Liverpool supporters were particularly hopeful for a late penalty that could have potentially altered the outcome of the match.
Social media platforms became a battleground of opinions, with one user sharing an image of a high karate kick, sarcastically captioned: ‘Doku on MacAllister, VAR: Played the ball.’
Another fan expressed disbelief, stating, ‘Doku’s just kicked Mac Allister in the chest in the 98th minute, and it’s not been given as a penalty. Disgrace.’
A prevailing sentiment on social media was the notion that match officials were biased toward Liverpool, with one user claiming, ‘NAH APPARENTLY THE REFS WANT KLOPP TO WIN IT BUT DOKU CAN KARATE KICK IN THE BOX AND ITS NOT A PEN?????’
Another fan labeled the decision as a ‘stonewall penalty,’ emphasizing the shock and disagreement among supporters.
Liverpool’s Resilience and Subsequent Developments
Liverpool had managed to equalize early in the second half through Alexis Mac Allister, who capitalized on a foul committed by Ederson against Darwin Nunez.
However, the joy of the equalizer was overshadowed by the injury-induced substitution of Ederson, who was replaced by Stefan Ortega.
Looking ahead, Liverpool is set to face Sparta Praha at home on Thursday, while Manchester City is gearing up to host Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
The fallout from the controversial tackle by Doku is likely to linger as fans and pundits continue to dissect the events of the match.
In the ever-evolving drama of football rivalries, the clash between Liverpool and Manchester City adds another chapter to the historic Klopp and Guardiola rivalry.
As these two managerial giants face off in their last-ever league game, the football world eagerly awaits the outcome. Stay tuned for more insights and analysis on the ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ podcast.
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