The game, already charged with emotion due to Liverpool’s touching tribute to the late Diogo Jota, took a controversial turn in the second half when referee Anthony Taylor refused to award a clear handball penalty against Bournemouth—despite VAR reviewing the incident. Many argue the decision also cost Liverpool a potential red card for the opposition.
The flashpoint came in the 63rd minute with the score still 0-0. Trent Alexander-Arnold fired a cross into the Bournemouth box, where it struck the outstretched arm of Milos Kerkez, seemingly blocking a goal-bound effort from Mohamed Salah. Replays shown on Sky Sports and widely shared on X clearly showed Kerkez’s arm in an unnatural position, halting Liverpool’s attack. The Anfield crowd erupted, and captain Virgil van Dijk led protests to the referee, with players calling for both a penalty and a red card for denying a clear scoring chance.
To the disbelief of the 60,000 fans in attendance, Taylor waved play on. VAR official Paul Tierney upheld the decision after a brief check, ruling the handball neither deliberate nor punishable. The call sparked immediate fury online. One supporter wrote, “That’s daylight robbery—Kerkez’s arm might as well have been a goalkeeper’s save!” while another fumed, “VAR is broken. That’s a penalty and red every day of the week.” Jamie Carragher added, “I’ve seen softer handballs given—VAR’s meant to fix these, not ignore them.”
Liverpool’s case seemed to fit Premier League handball rules, which penalize unnatural arm positions or deliberate blocks of shots. The possible red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity only deepened the controversy, with Bournemouth perhaps fortunate to stay at full strength.
Manager Arne Slot kept his words measured: “We’ve seen the replay—it’s a tough one to take. We’re fighting for every decision, but we’ll keep playing for Diogo and the fans.” Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola maintained the contact was “accidental,” though slow-motion replays appeared to show Kerkez moving his arm to meet the ball.
The decision reignited debates over VAR’s consistency, especially given similar incidents this season—such as a less obvious Arsenal handball that resulted in a penalty.
On the pitch, Liverpool dominated possession but struggled to break down Bournemouth’s defense. Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz came closest, only for goalkeeper Neto to produce key saves, while Dominic Solanke threatened on the counter, forcing Alisson into action.
All this unfolded under the emotional shadow of Jota’s tribute—a minute’s silence, black armbands, a striking “Jota 20” mosaic across The Kop and Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, and the “Forever 20” emblem on Liverpool’s shirts. In the 20th minute, Jota’s wife, Rute, and their three children received a heartfelt standing ovation, moving many to tears.
