Liverpool should NOT have been given a free-kick for Origi’s winning goal but Alexander-Arnold was right to stay on the pitch
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey says Fabinho went to ground 'very easily'
LIVERPOOL should NOT have been awarded a free-kick that lead to their winning goal against Newcastle, says former referee Mark Halsey.
Divock Origi headed in a crucial goal to make sure the Premier League title race goes down to the final weekend of the season.
Matt Ritchie was judged to have fouled Fabinho in the 85th minute, with Xherdan Shaqiri whipping in a wicked set-piece for the Belgian, on as a substitute for the injured Mo Salah, to score.
But Halsey, who spent 14 years as a Premier League ref, reckons it was the wrong decision.
He told SunSport: "The free-kick for the winning should not have been awarded.
"Fouls are subjective decisions for referees but I felt it was not a free-kick.
"Fabinho was very clever, he's gone to ground very easily and assistant referee Simon Long has fallen for the free-kick.
"I am sure when referee Andre Marriner watches the video back he will not be pleased with his assistant's decision to flag for a free-kick.
"Newcastle's Matt Ritchie is a very honest player and I can understand his frustration at the free-kick being awarded."
However, the ex-ref says Marriner did get the decision right on Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the right-back should have been sent off a handball on the line, just before Christian Atsu.
Carragher said on commentary: "Trent Alexander-Arnold is lucky there as 1-1 is the best thing that could happen to Liverpool in this situation."
But Halsey disagrees, stating: "Marriner was correct in law not to send off Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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"In Law 12, the Liverpool right-back technically did not deny a goal scoring opportunity because the rebound from Christian Atsu went into the back of the net.
"Referee Marriner held his whistle but had Newcastle’s Atsu missed then I’m confident he would have awarded a penalty and also red-carded Alexander-Arnold.
"However, Alexander-Arnold should have been cautioned for a deliberate handball as the law states the offence is unsporting behaviour."
