Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-1 on Saturday afternoon, but referee Thomas Brammall will be the man making most of the headlines.
Dominik Szoboszlai was the subject of a questionable penalty decision in the first half, before Alexis Mac Allister was sent off on his home Premier League debut for the Reds.
With the score locked at 1-1 heading towards the half-time break, Szoboszlai went to ground just inside the box, appearing to have been tripped by Joe Rothwell.
However, many observers feel that the Hungarian went down a little too easily, with some wondering if Rothwell made any contact at all.
SALAH SCORES THE REBOUND AFTER NETO'S SAVE 🙌⚽ pic.twitter.com/f3bTDijL1H
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 19, 2023
Referee decisions in Liverpool game questioned.
Several Twitter users have called out Szoboszlai for an apparent dive, but according to Glenn Murray on BBC's Final Score, Rothwell presented his opponent with an opportunity to win a penalty.
"At one angle I was questioning the call for the penalty but we have seen it again and yes it is the correct call," said the ex-Brighton striker.
"What Rothwell is doing there, on the edge of his own box, dangling a leg, I don't know. He gave Szobozslai a chance to go down and he took it."
Bournemouth's players certainly let referee Thomas Brammall know that they were unhappy with the decision, and they would have been relieved to see Neto save Mo Salah's spot kick.
However, the Egyptian followed up on the rebound to put his side 2-1 ahead going into half-time.
Liverpool were unconvincing overall though, having fallen behind to a third-minute goal from Cherries striker Antoine Semenyo.
Mac Allister sees red but it’s a nonsense. Referee and VAR at Anfield having a poor day.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 19, 2023
A Luis Diaz strike levelled things up before Salah's goal, with Diogo Jota adding a third on the hour mark.
That came just after Mac Allister's red card, which was a result of the Argentine appearing to catch Ryan Christie on the shin.
This was another decision that was questioned by pundits, with Chris Sutton and Dion Dublin both feeling that the foul warranted a yellow card at best.
Gary Lineker went as far to post that the decision was "nonsense," while calling out the ref and VARA for having a poor day at Anfield.
It may have been tougher than they would have hoped but Jurgen Klopp's side hung on to pick up their first win of the season, after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea last Sunday.
