Liverpool star Cody Gakpo was bizarrely denied a goal against West Ham when Alphonse Areola presented him the ball.
There was a moment of confusion in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against West Ham on Saturday afternoon when Areola rolled the ball out in the dying minutes.
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Referee Taylor blew the whistle as Gakpo advanced on AreolaCredit: TNT SportsGakpo ran up to the ball, believing that play was still active, with the intention of blasting it into the back of the net.
However, referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle despite the ball appearing to be in play.
The Liverpool striker looked perplexed but talkSPORT understands Taylor was already playing advantage as just before, Areola had been adjudged to have been fouled.
As the West Ham goalkeeper signalled for medical treatment, the referee blew up before Gakpo could reach the ball as the advantage to the Hammers was over.
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In the phase of play before, Areola had leaped to catch the ball as Gakpo nudged into the Frenchman.
It saw Areola hit the deck and into the post, leaving him with a problem to his shin.
After Taylor blew his whistle to signal the end of the advantage, he also beckoned for West Ham’s medical staff to come an deal with Areola’s injury.
Nevertheless, not everyone was left convinced, with former West Ham coach Stuart Pearce furious on talkSPORT.
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Taylor insisted that West Ham’s advantage was over as Areola requested medical treatment
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Gakpo had been adjudged to have fouled Areola moments beforeCredit: AFPHe said live on air while commentating on the match: “I tell you what, the referee had just made his own rules up here to cover his mistake, in my opinion.
“If I was Gakpo I would have got the ball and put it in the net, but as he ran toward the ball the referee blew his whistle and stopped him from doing it.
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“Areola got up and was about to play on, but now he’s gone down saying he needs treatment – I’m not sure about that.”
With the incident occurring just minutes before full-time, it turned out to be a pivotal moment as Liverpool could have taken the lead.
The Reds ended up drawing the contest 2-2, leaving them third in the Premier League and a point behind second-placed Manchester City, who now have two games in hand over them.
It might have effectively ended any chance of them winning the title this season with three games left and trailing leaders Arsenal by two points.
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With Jurgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season, this was the only trophy they had left to go for after crashing out of the Europa League and FA Cup.
However, they have won the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea earlier this year in the final, meaning they will not go empty-handed.