Liverpool have received multiple verdicts on Ibrahima Konate’s chalked-off goal during their frustrating loss to Galatasaray. The Reds endured a 1-0 defeat to the Turkish outfit in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Tuesday evening.

Arne Slot believed Liverpool had drawn level against Galatasaray to nullify an early header from Mario Lemina, with Konate appearing to score. The France international thought he had levelled for Liverpool with a close-range strike from a corner, only for the goal to be disallowed for handball after a VAR review, despite the referee seemingly awarding it initially.

UEFA issued a statement clarifying why Konate’s goal was ruled out. “Goal disallowed – handball offence,” UEFA stated. “Liverpool player, No.5 [Konate], directly scored the goal with his right arm.”

The incident has subsequently sparked fierce discussion, with some supporting the referee’s decision and others, including a former PGMOL chief, believing Liverpool were harshly treated, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has outlined why, having reviewed fresh footage of Konate’s disallowed goal, he considers the effort should have stood, arguing the defender did not handle it deliberately.

“It would appear that Konate was penalised for handball. Given the video clips available, I would suggest that this is a very harsh decision,” Hackett told Football Insider.

“The ball may have struck the arm of Konate. I do not see this has a deliberate action. I do not believe that Konate has made his body shape larger. The ball did not go directly into goal from his hand and arm in a deliberate or accidental manner.”

Nevertheless, another former Premier League referee disagrees with Hackett’s assessment, with Konate’s chalked-off goal remaining a matter of debate.

Mark Clattenburg backed the officials in Istanbul, explaining that, according to the laws of the game, VAR was right to rule out Konate’s goal.

“There is no doubt that Ibrahima Konate does touch the ball with his arm,” Clattenburg said.

“While it’s an accidental contact, the laws are clear that the goal must be cancelled and handball should be punished if the ball goes into the goal without it being touched by a teammate.”

Slot made plain his frustration following the defeat to Galatasaray, highlighting a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal as a factor behind the loss.

“It’s bad déjà vu, you could say,” Slot told UEFA. “The score is the same as the match three months ago. But we played a game where we could have scored much more.

“We created many chances; we missed many. We were really good in the first 15 minutes. But we couldn’t find the goal.”