Liverpool Receive Fourth Consecutive Premier League Defeat After Penalty Appeal Rejected Against Brentford

Liverpool suffered a 3-2 defeat to Brentford, marking their fourth consecutive Premier League loss amid frustration over a denied penalty claim involving Cody Gakpo. Referee Simon Hooper and VAR reviewed the incident where Gakpo went down in the box under a challenge from Nathan Collins but ruled no foul occurred, a decision supported by pundits Joe Cole and Steve McManaman who felt Gakpo went down too easily. Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed that the penalty claim was crucial and felt it was more deserving than Brentford's penalty awarded later in the match against Virgil van Dijk for a foul on Dango Ouattara. Brentford's Igor Thiago converted the penalty, extending their lead and complicating Liverpool's comeback efforts. The penalty controversy added to Liverpool's ongoing struggles after significant squad changes over the summer, with upcoming fixtures including Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Real Madrid. Despite the controversy, the official Premier League Match Centre confirmed the no-penalty decision on Gakpo’s challenge, emphasizing the complexity and impact of refereeing decisions in Liverpool’s current challenging run.