'Wow' - Ex-FIFA ref stunned as Liverpool 'unlucky' in controversial Real Madrid footage

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Credit: Imago / TNT Sports Tue 4 November 2025 23:00, UK Arne Slot can feel disappointed after Liverpool were not awarded a penalty kick during their Champions League win over Real Madrid.That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that he was surprised to see play restarted with a drop ball after a clear handball in the penalty area.Alexis Mac Allister scored the only goal in Liverpool’s win under the Anfield lights, benefitting from a pin-point free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, who was absolutely relentless against Los Blancos.Vinicius Junior has attempted to buy a penalty against the Reds, already on a yellow card when going down theatrically in the penalty area, but his efforts were all in vein on Tuesday, 4 November.Aurelien Tchouameni escapes giving away a penalty against LiverpoolIn the 30th minute, Slot’s side might have been given the chance to take the lead via the penalty spot after Szoboszlai’s long-distance effort ricocheted off Aurelien Tchouameni‘s arm and a free-kick was awarded.There was debate over whether the player was inside the box and if the Frenchman had purposely made his body bigger, and after the latter was dismissed in a VAR check, a drop ball was awarded instead.Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Wow. The handling offence was on the line of the penalty area, and VAR intervened then to suggest that the free-kick should be upgraded to a penalty.Credit: Imago MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES “The referee on review decided that it was not handball and, therefore, not a penalty kick.

So, he restarted the game with a dropped ball.“I believe Liverpool are unlucky not to be awarded a penalty. The defender’s actions are to challenge the Liverpool forward in an effort to block the ball and succeed.

The ball does strike the arm of the defender.”No fairytale return for Trent Alexander-Arnold at AnfieldMuch of the lead-up was about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to Anfield after his summer move to Real Madrid, but the right-back was on the bench when the game kicked off.The 27-year-old replaced Arda Guler in the 81st minute and was greeted by a chorus of boos from the home support, who made their feelings known about the former Reds captain.He barely made an impact in the final 10 minutes, and to make matters even worse, the defender was completely shown up by his own prodigee, Conor Bradley, who kept Vinicius silent all night.So much went wrong for Xabi Alonso and his team, and after a horrendous run of results across all competitions, things finally clicked for Slot and his squad.