Explanation Anthony Taylor decision Alphonse Areola incident West Ham Liverpool

Premier League referee denies Liverpool key goal in title race against West Ham, sparking confusion and controversy in bizarre decision.

In one of the most perplexing and controversial decisions of the Premier League season, Anthony Taylor made a call that left Liverpool fans scratching their heads in disbelief. With the game tied at 2-2, a crucial moment unfolded as a cross found its way into the box and West Ham's goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola, fell to the ground while collecting the ball. Despite taking his time to get back on his feet, Taylor allowed play to continue without blowing his whistle for a foul.

As Areola rolled the ball out in front of him in the box, Liverpool's Cody Gakpo saw an opportunity to score into an empty net. However, just as he was about to strike the ball, Taylor abruptly blew his whistle. The confusion only deepened when the PGMOL clarified that Taylor was playing advantage due to a foul on the goalkeeper.

But was this truly the case? Many questioned the lack of a clear advantage signal from Taylor, such as the typical gesture of both hands straight out in front of him. The situation bore similarities to a recent incident involving Arsenal and Bayern Munich, where a misunderstanding led to a contentious decision.

Calls for the release of audio from the match have emerged, as fans and analysts seek clarity on the sequence of events. It appears that Areola may have escaped a potentially costly error that could have shifted the tide in Liverpool's favor. The draw they settled for in East London may have left their title aspirations in a more precarious position than they had hoped for.