Reece James red card: Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel not happy at way decision was made

Reece James, a Chelsea player, was the first to be sent off at Anfield for the Premier League after Frank Lampard's 2009 departure.
Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea boss, says he is unhappy with the "decision-making" that saw Reece James dismissed and Liverpool given a penalty in their 1-1 draw.

Kai Havertz's header put the Blues in control 1-0. Sadio Mane's shot, however, was stopped by James' arm.

After taking a quick look at the VAR pitchside monitor during the first-half injury time referee Anthony Taylor issued the penalty and sent James home.

Mohamed Salah won the penalty.

Mane had hit a shot from four feet away, which struck James' thigh and his arm. His arm was not moved towards the ball, but it remained at his side.

According to the laws of football, it is an offense if a player intentionally touches the ball with their arm or hand.

An automatic red card offense is denying the opposition handball goalscoring opportunity.

Tuchel stated that he was unsure if the rules are correct or incorrect. You must accept the decision. "We were not satisfied with the decision-making."

Tuchel's issue was caused by Taylor only briefly looking at the monitor. He saw a few frames in slow-motion, and not the entire incident. Taylor spoke to the VAR team.

The Chelsea head coach stated that they had an impression that the referee was just checking the image from the handball. It was clear. "He might have changed his mind if the whole situation was seen, which is a deflection in moving images.

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Klopp says that James, defender, has a clear handball

"We have heard from referees that it is not going to get punished if it's deflection and not an unnatural arm position."

Chris Sutton, a former Chelsea striker, was looking at the game on BBC Radio 5 Live. He said that it was a penalty and a card according to the law. Reece James intentionally kept the ball out the net, according to the referee.

Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta thought the decision was "harsh".

He said, "He went to screen to see one replay." "We received the double punishment, red and penalty and two yellow cards for disobedience.

Players who commit accidental fouls to deny a goalcoring chance by conceding a penalty are only booked and not sent off since 2016. However, that does not apply for handball decisions.

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool boss, did not believe there was any controversy over the decision.

"I believe it was a clear handball. He said that he was certain the ball hit his thigh. But his arm is not.