Mike Dean drops verdict on Liverpool vs Crystal Palace penalty controversy after analysing Sky footage
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Credit: Imago Sat 25 April 2026 17:52, UK Mike Dean has reaffirmed that Liverpool should not have had a penalty in their 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.The Reds took another step closer to qualifying for the Champions League with a dominant performance over the Eagles.Goals from Alexander Isak and Andy Robertson in the first half put the hosts in command. While a controversial Daniel Munoz goal gave the Reds a scare, a late Florian Wirtz striker made it 3-1, which turned out to be a routine victory for the hosts.However, it could have been by a bigger margin after Liverpool were awarded a penalty when Mohamed Salah went down under challenge inside Palace’s box before it was overturned by VAR.Now, Mike Dean has agreed with the decision to overturn the spotkick in what was a simple Liverpool victory. ⚽ Liverpool Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert previews, VAR verdicts, and tactical analysis for every Reds fixture.
VISIT THE LIVERPOOL MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Mike Dean: VAR was right to overturn Liverpool penalty vs Crystal PalaceMidway through the first-half, Liverpool thought they were about to be given a spot-kick when Andy Madley awarded the hosts a penalty.It came after Salah went down inside the box, with Brennan Johnson deemed to have taken out the winger.Match statsLiverpoolCrystal PalacePossession 53.1%46.9%Shots 914Shots on target37xG0.912.32Corners58Palace were actually the better team at AnfieldHowever, after a VAR review, they advised Madley to overturn the decision, deeming the Palace star to have touched the ball before contacting Salah.Reviewing the footage on Sky Sports on 25 April, former Premier League referee Dean was quick to agree with the decision, believing that the Liverpool star had simply lost his balance.He said: “I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. Johnson has gone in to get the ball; Mo Salah is not getting past him.“Johnson has then got a touch on the ball, and it’s then hit Salah.#LIVCRY – 23’ VAR OVERTURNAfter VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of penalty to Liverpool.
Referee announcement: “After review, Crystal Palace number 11 gets a touch on the ball. My final decision is a drop ball to the goalkeeper – no penalty.”— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) April 25, 2026 “I don’t even think Salah is looking for a penalty, he’s just lost his balance and gone down.“For me, it shouldn’t be a penalty kick, and it’s probably just outside (the box) as well if anything were going to be given.“But for me, it should not be a penalty kick.”Arne Slot edges closer to safety at LiverpoolFootball Insider exclusively revealed that Slot would have been sacked by Liverpool if they failed to qualify for the Champions League this season.For a moment, this looked doubtful, with the Reds on awful form for most of April, causing them to slip down the table.However, victories over Everton and now Palace, combined with Chelsea’s collapse, have now put them in a prime position to finish in the top five.As a result, it is looking increasingly likely that Slot will be in the Anfield dugout next season after pulling together a series of important Premier League wins.Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if Slot can continue this form into the 2026-27 campaign, or if he will remain under pressure at Anfield. 🔴 Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Liverpool Insider Access Get the full story from Anfield and the AXA Training Centre with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Merseyside.