Referee Michael Oliver gave a corner but it was checked by VAR who stayed with the on field decision. After the match, Jurgen Klopp claimed all football fans knew it was a penalty but former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher explained on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch why VAR was right not to overturn the decision.

“I think from my point of view it is easy to give it. If you give it, there will be some argument but I don’t think we will be talking about it this much,” he said.

“Doku gets the ball, there is no doubt about that, he then gets Mac Allister. The argument is does getting the ball negate a penalty. Well, no. Michael Oliver fed back to the VAR that he is convinced Doku gets the ball, he is right. VAR takes a look to check he is right and decides to go with the referee on-field.”

When asked whether the call would have been overturned if Oliver had given a penalty on the pitch, Gallagher added: “I think on this decision it was always going to be the referee’s call. Whatever the referee gives there you’ll back him because if he doesn’t give the penalty the argument is that he played the ball first. If he gives the penalty, he will say his boot is high and stud marks on his chest.

“The pictures will support whichever way he goes and that’s the vagueness of a) refereeing and b) VAR. VAR is not there as a parachute to re-referee a football match.

“VAR is there to say: ‘I think you have made a clear and obvious error.’ I know for a fact that the referee has told VAR that he thinks Doku has played the ball, if you look at that, he does so the VAR cannot argue with the referee.”