David Luiz handed a cheap penalty to Liverpool during Arsenal’s visit to Anfield last weekend and most people believe this changed the course of the game.
Liverpool went into half-time with a 1-0 lead thanks to Joel Matip but it the second half, it was almost certain that Arsenal would be looking to get back to level terms.
Unfortunately though, that could not happen as David Luiz grabbed onto Mo Salah’s shirt while trying to prevent the Egyptian from taking a shot at goal and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
While it did go up to VAR for reconfirmation but the original decision stuck and Salah converted from the spot.
And speaking after the game, David Luiz tried to put out his version of the shirt pulling saying that he did pull on Salah’s shirt but there was no real power in that. Also, the defender oddly tried to blame extra-large shirts for the spot-kick.
David Luiz said: “You cannot take out from the players, it is just a reflex. When I turned I see that I was taking and so I took off [my hand from Salah’s shirt].
“I spoke with Mo and he said ‘I didn’t feel you touch me, that’s why I didn’t go down to the floor’ but now with the VAR, you cannot see the power so it is difficult for the referees. He saw the shirt like that, but I don’t know. It’s difficult for them so I cannot complain with their efforts because it is difficult for them too.
“If you play with an extra-large shirt now, there could be a penalty every time. It’s interpretation, so I think if you pull someone with power and you change his strength to go to the ball, it’s different.
“It was just a reflex but that’s it, it made the penalty and after that, he gave me the yellow. So on the third goal, I could not make the foul and put my team in trouble with 10 men.
“So I think it conditioned my game a bit after that and it was more difficult. But like I said, the team fought until the end and the team created a lot of chances to score here today. It could be a different game but now we are still with the six points, in three games, we’re going to play a tough game against Tottenham.
“I think you have to look forward and try to win.
“Yes[shirt pulling should lead to penalties], but if I pull your shirt like that and if you put your hand like that, it’s different, the power is different.
“That’s what I said. In VAR it is difficult for them, they cannot see the power, so if I pull like this [gives demonstration] it’s more power than just like this. So it depends on the interpretation like I said.
“But if you see the shirt going like that it’s also difficult for the referee to say it is not a penalty. That’s why I don’t judge him and complain against him.
“I’m just saying my view. The reflex is in one second you turn, you do and you take out. But it’s like that, football is like that. We have to look forward. I spoke with Mo, he’s my friend and he said he didn’t feel that. But that’s football. Football is like that.”
