Forest penalty v Liverpool incorrect, but not for VAR - panel

The KMI Panel ruled that Alisson's challenge was not reckless, so referee Sam Barrott should not have pointed to the spot [Getty Images] Nottingham Forest should not have been awarded a penalty at Liverpool for Alisson's challenge on Neco Williams, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has said. But the KMI Panel added that the decision did not reach the threshold for a video assistant referee intervention, so Michael Oliver was correct not to send referee Sam Barrott to the pitchside monitor. Williams was brought down by Alisson after releasing a shot in the 68th minute. Morgan Gibbs-White scored to put Forest 2-1 in front, before Victor Munoz secured a 2-2 draw for Liverpool with an 82nd-minute equaliser. The KMI Panel voted 3:2 that Barrott should not have given the penalty, but supported the VAR outcome 5:0. It is possible for the panel to judge them differently because a VAR intervention has a higher threshold than an on-field decision. "The contact from Alisson was inevitable as a consequence of his momentum in attempting to save the ball," the KMI Panel said. "The contact made was not reckless and below the threshold for a penalty. "However, the non intervention by the VAR was unanimously supported on the basis that it was not a clear and obvious error."