Chelsea fans were left feeling aggrieved after a controversial decision during their recent clash with Liverpool, as many are convinced they were denied a clear penalty. The incident occurred during Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League match at Anfield, with Chelsea hoping to break into the top three with a strong performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The match began tensely, with both teams battling for control, but it was Liverpool who took the lead. Midway through the first half, Curtis Jones was brought down by Levi Colwill inside the Chelsea penalty area. After a swift VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, and Mohamed Salah confidently dispatched the spot-kick to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
However, Chelsea supporters were furious that a similar incident in Liverpool’s penalty box was not met with the same outcome. During a key moment, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold made a challenge on Jadon Sancho inside the area, but despite the appeals, no penalty was given. Fans took to social media to express their outrage, pointing to replays that showed a different angle of the challenge, which seemed to indicate contact between Alexander-Arnold and Sancho.
One fan shared a video clip of the incident with the caption: “VAR didn’t even bother to check Trent’s foul on Sancho inside the penalty area.” The sentiment was echoed by many others. “That’s a penalty, but it was never going to be given against LiVARpool,” another fan tweeted, hinting at their frustration with what they see as favorable decisions going Liverpool’s way.
A third fan added: “They know what they’re doing. If Colwill’s tackle was a penalty, then this should have been too—more obvious, a lot more violent.” Others joined in, with one supporter stating: “It was a clear penalty. Arnold stepped on Sancho’s right leg,” while another commented: “VAR checks everything, but they made the wrong decision again—it was clearly a penalty.”
The non-call became a central talking point, as Chelsea sought to get back into the game. Early in the second half, Chelsea found their breakthrough when Nicolas Jackson coolly slotted home an equalizer in the 48th minute, igniting hopes of a comeback. But Liverpool’s response was swift. Just three minutes later, Salah’s clever pass picked out Jones, who finished clinically to restore Liverpool’s lead at 2-1.
Despite Chelsea’s best efforts, they were unable to find another goal, and Liverpool held on for the win. The match ended 2-1, but the post-match discussions were dominated by the penalty controversy. The sense of injustice among Chelsea fans was palpable, especially given how the refereeing decisions seemed to shape the outcome.
Speaking after the match, former Everton midfielder Leon Osman weighed in on the issue during BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage, criticizing Chelsea’s defensive organization. “Chelsea were trying so hard to play Darwin Nunez offside that they completely ignored the late runners. Salah didn’t need to do much to find Jones’ run for the second goal,” he said, pointing to tactical flaws that proved costly for the visitors.
Meanwhile, on Sky Sports, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville heaped praise on Curtis Jones, calling him Liverpool’s standout performer. “Jones has been involved in everything—he’s been Liverpool’s best player by a mile!” Neville exclaimed, highlighting the midfielder’s influence in a pivotal match for the Reds.
The frustration of Chelsea fans over the penalty that never was may linger, but ultimately, Liverpool walked away with all three points. For Chelsea, the focus will now be on tightening up defensively and finding a way to turn narrow losses into positive results, especially if they want to push higher up the table as the season progresses.
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