EXPLAINED: Why Liverpool were denied penalty vs Arsenal after Gabriel handball

• Gabriel appeared to handle the ball
• VAR waved off penalty appeal
• Liverpool fans left furious

WHAT HAPPENED? During a dangerous Liverpool attack, Arsenal defender Gabriel seemed to handle the ball to stop a Diogo Jota cross.

WHY WASN'T IT GIVEN? Liverpool fans may have a case to be annoyed, as Gabriel's arm was high and in an unnatural position, though the short distance the ball travelled likely contributed to VAR waving away the penalty appeal.

STORY IN TWO PHOTOS:

Replays clearly showed that Gabriel blocked Jota's cross with his arm...

Viaplay

How Gabriel might have looked if the decision had gone the other way...

Getty Images

THE REACTION:

One fan pointed back to the incident after seeing Arsenal awarded a penalty at the other end for a debatable foul in the box - *explicit language warning*