Keith Hackett left perplexed by ‘mistake’ in West Ham United v Liverpool
Keith Hackett has reacted to a “mistake” from referee Anthony Taylor as West Ham claimed a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Saturday (27 April).
Controversy arose during the game at the London Stadium as Taylor played advantage after a foul on Alphonse Areola, with the Hammers shot-stopper rolling the ball out to take a free-kick.
Though the whistle was not blown for an awarding of a free-kick, Cody Gakpo was stopped from nicking the ball off the Frenchman, causing a mix-up between players and officials.
Reacting to the situation via X on Sunday (28 April), Hackett wrote: “He signalled advantage with his right hand. The goalkeeper must have thought he had awarded a free kick so threw the ball forward to take a free kick.
“When Taylor saw the Liverpool player advancing on the ball he stopped play. He then made a mistake by restarting the game.”
West Ham controversy shrouds Liverpool draw
With the current controversies surrounding referees and VAR officials, fans have started to question many of the decisions being made, and it is easy to understand the confusion with this one.
While Liverpool fans can take issue with this specific situation, Areola was clearly hurt by the prior challenge and did not look fully comfortable to continue, which may have been a reason for his confusion.
Despite the focus on this incident, West Ham’s point against the Reds is not a result that should be overlooked, especially with the club’s current form in all competitions.
The Hammers are winless in their last five matches in all competitions, which has added pressure onto the shoulders of David Moyes, who could be replaced ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Jurgen Klopp’s team came into the game with recent losses against Crystal Palace and Everton, though many expected it to be a long day for the Londoners.
However, the Hammers claimed just their second win over the Reds since 2016 and helped build confidence ahead of final matches against Chelsea, Luton Town and Manchester City.
In other West Ham news, a £13million problem has emerged in the hunt for a new manager.
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