Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Referee Chris Kavanagh ignored claims for a penalty and it was checked by the VAR, Paul Tierney.

VAR decision: No penalty.

The ball hits the arm of Alexis Mac Allister inside the area. TNT Sports

VAR review: The handball law has caused much controversy over recent seasons, but in England, it's been applied far more leniently.



The ball striking the arm if it was just a little away from the body, or clearly accidentally, was more likely to result in the arm being deemed in a natural position.

Handball penalties last seasonGamesPensFrequencyPremier League380942.22Bundesliga3061916.11LaLiga3802813.57Champions League1881611.75Serie A3803411.18Ligue 1306378.27Frequency is games per penalty

Far more importance has been put on a player's body movement.

For instance, if they are jumping they would be expected to have a raised arm.

If the ball had hit Mac Allister's left arm in front of him as he was looking at the flight of the ball, it would have been a stronger claim for a penalty.

As the ball hit his arm that was raised behind his body, more consideration is given to it being accidental.

There are many examples of this being applied last season, including two in one match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Forest were on the attack in the 44th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White crossed to the far post to Chris Wood, but the ball touched the arm of Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Because the ball dropped from behind him, it was ruled accidental.

Jørgen Strand Larsen didn't give away a VAR penalty. BBC

A free kick was delivered into the Forest penalty area in the 75th minute.

As the ball dropped, it hit the arm of the Forest player, but again it was deemed Wood should not be penalized because the ball was dropping behind his back.

The ball hit Chris Wood's arm but it was deemed he knew nothing about it. BBC

You could question whether there was any kind of deliberate act by Mac Allister.