Anthony Taylor was correct not to award Chelsea a penalty against Liverpool after Alejandro Garnacho tumbled under the challenge of Dominik Szoboszlai, according to Gary Neville. The Blues winger appeared to throw himself to the ground after feeling contact from the Reds' star, with the challenge not being deemed severe enough to earn a spotkick.

Chelsea bossEnzo Marescapicked up a yellow card for his protests after both and the VAR decided the contact was not enough to award a penalty. And ex-Manchester United defender Neville did not think the Italian coach's protests were valid.

"He had a great, great position, Anthony Taylor. He was watching it. That's not a penalty," said Neville on commentary.

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"He's got it absolutely spot on. There's a little bit of a tussle but that's definitely not a penalty. In fact, at the end he throws himself to the ground.

"He's watching it. He sees exactly what happens.

"I know sometimes they get it wrong but he (Maresca) just needs to calm down, relax. I don't know who is feeding him telling him it's a penalty."

The Premier League explained their view on the Match Centre account, writing: "The referee’s call of no penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact from Szoboszlai on Garnacho deemed to be minimal."

Ex-Chelsea star Pat Nevin believes it would have been cruel to give a penalty against Liverpool. But, if it had been awarded, he does not believe it would have been overturned either.

Nevin said: "From a distance I didn't think it was anywhere close to a penalty kick. When you see it again with the replays and slow motion, surprise, surprise, there is a little shove on Garnacho's back.

"Had he given it first time they wouldn't have changed it. It seemed harsh to give a penalty kick for that."

Chelsea nevertheless went in at half-time one goal to the good. Moises Caicedo produced a thunderbolt strike to hand his side the lead.

Liverpool meanwhile struggled to get Alexander Isak into the game. The Reds managed just two shots at Stamford Bridge in the opening 45 minutes, though Chelsea recorded just one more.