Jarrod Bowen had one big reason for disappointment last night when firing home a superb goal which was then ruled out for offside.
He raced onto the Brazilian’s pass and lashed low past keeper Alisson, only for a VAR review to find him half-a-yard offside.
Jarrod Bowen
Later of course VAR could see nothing wrong with a ball handled inside the area by Thiago after it had come off Danny Ings boot.
We can go on forever but what’s the point? Doubtless at some stage we will get a pointless apology and that will be that,
The Hammers got themselves in front against the Reds through Paquetá’s early 25-yarder, only for Cody Gakpo to peg the hosts back minutes later.
Speaking to West Ham TV, Bowen admitted he no longer knows what represents handball inside the opposition 18-yard-box, such have been the changes to the laws and their interpretation in recent seasons.
He said: “It could have gone either way.
We knew they would have a lot of the ball and they are a good team, there is no denying that. With the way they play, there were times we had to suffer without the ball, and there were times when we had to go and put the pressure on and I think we got the balance right.
The goals were just a disappointment on our behalf. One was from a set-piece, on which we usually pride ourselves on defensively and offensively, and the other one sees Gakpo shoot, and we probably could have got a bit closer to it.
The last few weeks we’ve been at it to a better level, closer to what we expect of ourselves. Even tonight, there were times when we could have been better on the ball, but I also thought there were times when we looked dangerous.
I haven’t seen the handball decision back. We just had a chat then and they’re saying it should have been a penalty, but it’s one of them. One day you get it and one day you don’t.
haven’t actually seen it back. I thought, at the time, he slid in to try and win the ball back. It was different to if he was falling. He’s kind of slid in and the ball has hit his trailing arm. I thought it was going to get given but it didn’t.”
By Hughie Southon