Liverpool faced off with Chelsea in a tale of penalties at Anfield, with both sides being awarded a spot-kick before a shootout between the two teams to separate them

Liverpool has been told that referee Darren England made the correct call in awarding a penalty to the Reds, after Wesley Fofana appeared to handle the ball in the Chelsea box.

It came in a clash that was defined by the 12-yard spot, as the Blues were given a spot-kick following a late challenge from Ryan Gravenberch into the back of Moises Caicedo.

Morgan Rogers stepped up and dispatched the opportunity, which was the most clear-cut chance for either team up until that point, but there was another twist shortly after.

After going behind, Liverpool sparked into life, pushing on and winning a corner. From the set-piece, a waving arm from Fofana appeared to strike the ball, leading to plenty of appeals from the home crowd and players.

The match referee pointed to the spot, and after stepping up to the chance, Cody Gakpo slotted the penalty away to draw the game level.

It was a decision that left some of the Chelsea players baffled, but for some pundits watching on, it was the correct call. Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison agreed with England and said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Yeah, Liverpool deserve it to be fair. They have been the better team.

"It was a mistake from Fofana. I don't know why his hand is in the air. What a penalty from Cody Gakpo into the bottom corner, and he's been a good player for Liverpool this season. I think he's playing his best football. I think he's been outstanding."

"I just don't know what Fofana is doing. I think he tried to catch it!" Lee Hendrie said on Sky Sports News. Another former player, Alan Smith, also thought the same, as he said on Sky Sports' coverage of the game: "Straight away, four or five Liverpool hands went up in unison.

"They were all convinced. It's one of those where you struggle to explain why the arm comes up. Once it's up, it's always going to be handball."

Meanwhile, Chelsea legend Graeme Le Saux was left baffled by the decision from Fofana to leave his hands in the air, as he said on Sky Sports: "I cannot believe it. You look for things. Is he being pushed? Is he being tugged around? No, he's not. He's leaning into his player and then flaps his right hand at the ball. It's such a critical time after Chelsea went in front against the run of play."

While penalties ended up tying the two teams over the 90 minutes, it would be the method that they would be separated, with a shootout eventually used to decide who would reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

Valentin Barco and Kostas Tsimikas both missed from the spot in the first five for each, with the penalties continuing to flow. Gravenberch missed before Emmanuel Emegha and Wesley Fofana both failed to convert, giving Liverpool the win.

It came as a huge boost to Iraola, who will now be guiding Liverpool into the quarter-finals with the hope that the campaign can end with some silverware.