Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain after a controversial penalty decision went against them at Anfield. Trailing 2-0 on aggregate, the hosts were awarded a penalty on 64 minutes when Alexis Mac Allister went down under a challenge from Willian Pacho. However, referee Maurizio Mariani was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR and overturned his original decision, much to the surprise of pundits and fans.
Former referee Mark Clattenburg, speaking on Prime Video, said he expected the penalty to stand, calling it a 'clumsy challenge' and stating that the contact was 'not wrong'. Alan Shearer also expressed surprise at the overturn, noting that Mac Allister did well to protect the ball and invite the challenge. The decision proved pivotal, as PSG scored through Ousmane Dembele eight minutes later and added a second in stoppage time to seal a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot voiced his frustration after the match, saying: 'If you look at our season I am completely not surprised because so many decisions have gone against us.' He added that if the referee had not given the penalty, VAR would not have intervened. Defender Ibrahima Konate echoed his manager's sentiments, stating: 'For me it was a clear penalty... If we got the penalty and score it would be completely different.'
Pundits including Wayne Rooney, Robbie Fowler, and Daniel Sturridge also criticised the decision. Rooney argued that the original call should have stood, while Fowler said 'VAR has probably not done its job there'. Sturridge insisted that clear contact made it a penalty, adding: 'Simple as that.' The defeat ends Liverpool's Champions League campaign amid growing frustration over officiating decisions this season.
