BBC pundits were divided by an apparent Andros Townsend handball in the Liverpool penalty area during the Reds' thrilling 4-3 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Moments before the winger gave Crystal Palace the lead, Townsend was subject to a massive penalty appeal for an apparent handball in his own box following a tussle with Sadio Mane. The ball appeared to strike the Palace wingers hand but referee John Moss penalised Mane, which angered many Liverpool fans.
Townsend gives Palace the lead at Liverpool a couple of minutes after he got away with handling in his own box.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 19, 2019
The decision split the opinion of BBC pundits Kevin Kilbane and Garth Crooks with Kilbane arguing it was a clear penalty. Speaking on the show
"Andros Townsend's arms is clearly in an unnatural position, it is high above his head, and flicks the ball away off his arm. It looks to me like a clear penalty. Now I don't know if there is something happening in the build up towards it, or if there's been a slight tug from Mane on Townsend, but it looks to me like it should be a penalty."
His fellow pundit had the opposite opinion on the issue, saying the referee made the right call.
Crooks said: "I think Mane has forced the momentum of Andros to force his hand in that direction, that's why I think he has given the decision against Mane.
Liverpool
Source : 90min