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‘Watch this’: Andy Townsend stunned by what happened to Liverpool star, VAR didn’t see it

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Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Liverpool could and probably should’ve demolished Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last night.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were 2-0 ahead by half time and with the Spaniards having Felipe sent off before the break, Liverpool could’ve put Atleti to the sword in the second half.

Instead, those goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane were the only ones that were scored at Anfield last night – well, the only legal ones after both sides had one chalked off during the second 45 minutes.

Jota had a goal cancelled out early in the second half after a VAR check.

But was the Portugal international also denied a penalty? Andy Townsend thinks so.

Speaking during commentary alongside Martin Tyler, Townsend alleged that the former Wolves star was taken down in the box by Koke.

He said: “Watch this. Look at Koke on Jota. I mean, it’s a penalty. It’s a penalty! Is this been checked? No.”

Spot-on

It did look like a very strong case for a Liverpool penalty but the incident wasn’t spotted by the referee, or VAR.

Just because the Reds wound up winning and never really looked in much danger, it doesn’t mean that it’s right to gloss over and perhaps it’s another failing of the video assistant referee.

Had Klopp’s side been struggling, though, you’d imagine this would’ve got a serious look and Townsend is right in saying that it’s strange to ignore it.

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Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images