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Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have criticized referee Anthony Taylor’s decision-making following an incident involving Cody Gakpo during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.

Despite both teams’ efforts, the match ended in a stalemate at the London Stadium.

However, a pivotal moment arose when Gakpo seized an opportunity created by quick thinking after West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola threw the ball down while preparing to distribute it to a teammate.

Areola had gone down in the box moments earlier after collecting a cross from Liverpool, but no foul was given by Taylor, allowing play to continue uninterrupted.

Consequently, Gakpo was in a prime position to intercept the ball placed on the ground by Areola, with an open goal beckoning.

However, Taylor swiftly blew his whistle, halting play to allow West Ham’s medical staff onto the pitch to assess Areola, a decision Taylor made independently despite Areola not requesting medical assistance.

The incident, which occurred late in the second half, drew criticism from Ian Wright, who remarked on Match of the Day about the unusual circumstances surrounding the referee’s intervention.

“The referee has had an absolute nightmare.

Now, he’s turned his back to him, I think Gakpo should have ran and finished that.

Now he’s blown the whistle – I don’t know what’s going on.

The ref has made the error of not blowing,” he said.

“When the goalkeeper has collided with the post, that’s when he should have stopped the play and blown the whistle.

“He hasn’t blown the whistle which is an error!

“They’re not even ready, they don’t even think he’s injured.

“He’s not injured, he’s [Taylor] has tried to rectify the mistake that he’s made?
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