Liverpool receive 'fortunate' referee verdict after Mohamed Salah incident vs Newcastle

Stuart Attwell gave a free-kick to Newcastle United when Mohamed Salah believed Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty

Lewis Hall was 'fortunate' not to concede a third-minute penalty for a tussle with Mohamed Salah in the Newcastle United penalty area, according to Ally McCoist's.

A free-kick was instead given against the Liverpool attacker, much to his and teammates' dismay.

With the Reds hosting the Magpies at Anfield in the Premier League - an early taster of next month's Carabao Cup final - the match got off to a blistering start.

But before Liverpool went ahead through Dominik Szoboszlai strike after 11 minutes, there was an even earlier moment involving Salah that proved highly contentious.

A slow build-up was eventually hastened by a line-breaking Trent Alexander-Arnold through pass, rushed towards by the Egyptian on the right-hand flank.

As he did so, a tussle with opposite full-back Hall began.

With arms involved attempting to out-strengthen their opponent, Salah looked to have won the battle as the Newcastle man went to ground

His outstretched arm then tripped the No.11 before he could attempt a shot or cross, though referee Stuart Attwell decided for the initial contact the visitors were deserving of a free-kick.

McCoist

"I think Salah does get fouled, but it’s whether he fouls Hall initially. He sticks his arm out and prevents him [running through].

“He might’ve given the free-kick early on, there. Whatever way you look at it, they might be a bit fortunate, Newcastle,"

Darren Fletcher Added

"He had an arm on him outside the box but I’m with you - I don’t think it was enough to give a free kick,"

The incident was revisited by the pair twice more. McCoist then outright suggested Attwell had got the call wrong, saying after seeing the initial tussle on a replay:

"That’s why he gives it. I’m with you, I’m only trying to explain why the referee perhaps got it wrong."