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Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg insists the penalty awarded against Liverpool at Napoli on Tuesday evening was the correct decision.

The Reds conceded a late spot-kick when Jose Callejon went down under a challenge from Andy Robertson in the box, although replays later showed the the attacker appeared to already be tumbling to the ground before contact was made.

Dries Mertens scored the penalty and the Reds went on to lose 2-0 in their Champions League opener, and Jurgen Klopp criticised the award of the penalty after the game.

“I’m sorry, but when the player jumps before there is contact then it can not be a penalty," he said .

(Image: Paul Currie/BPI/REX)

"I can say a lot of things about it, but then it would look like a bad loser.

“When you see it again, you can see it is a clear mistake. But then human beings are the ones who decide if there is a mistake - and with VAR as long as human beings decide, then there is a potential for failure.

“But we can not do anything about it now. We have to accept it. They will find a reason to say it was the right decision, and we have to accept it.”

(Image: EMPICS Sport)

However Clattenburg, writing for the Mail Online , says that referee Felix Brych and the VAR officials at the game made the correct decsion.

“Sorry Liverpool fans, but it was a penalty," said Clattenburg.

"Andrew Robertson committed to a tackle on Napoli's Jose Callejon inside the area with his wrong foot and made no contact with the ball.

“Once the tackle had been made, Robertson's leg was in Callejon's space and it made contact with the Napoli man's thigh.

(Image: X01095)

“After German referee Felix Brych had awarded the penalty, VAR immediately checked to see if there was contact.

“Replays from several angles showed that was the case, so Brych's original decision stood.

"The right decision was reached and Dries Mertens put the penalty away."