Premier League release statement after controversial VAR call during Bournemouth vs Liverpool

The Premier League have released a statement after a controversial penalty was awarded during Liverpool’s match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Arne Slot’s side came into the match top of the league but faced an in-form Bournemouth outfit - fresh from a 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

The game started at a frenetic pace with little to choose between the sides until the 27^th minute of proceedings when Cody Gakpo was adjudged to have been fouled by the Cherries’ Lewis Cook.

Both players were running at speed while contesting a bouncing ball before Gakpo, 25, fell to the floor after contact from Cook, 27.

However, the Netherlands international appeared to make more contact with his own standing leg rather than the Bournemouth player.

Despite protests from the Bournemouth players and crowd the spot-kick was given before Mohamed Salah stepped up and scored to hand the away side the lead.

The Premier League released an official explanation on their Match Centre X account shortly after the incident.

Lewis Cook was adjudged to have fouled Cody Gakpo (Credit:Getty)

The statement read: “The referee’s call of penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge deemed to have been a trip by Cook on Gakpo. The VAR also confirmed Gakpo was onside in the build-up.”

Fans on social media were quick to give their thoughts on the incident.

One said: "Unbelievable decision."

Another added: "Gakpo takes himself out of it to give Liverpool a penalty."

While a third commented: "Can they also show their Liverpool kits underneath? That is never a penalty.

"What’s the point in VAR if they cannot slow it down and see that Gakpo tripped himself??"

A fourth explained: "How on planet Earth is that a pen?! Wow."

A fifth slammed: "If refs are going to give decisions like this in favour of Liverpool might as well hand them the title straightaway."

As another exclaimed: "Definitely need to see a better angle of that Liverpool penalty because this one it looks like Gakpo trips himself.

"Bournemouth players didn’t complain much though so I assume another angle confirms it was a foul."

As things stand, Liverpool will be nine points clear at the top of the Premier League this evening.