Liverpool penalty claim vs Man City: Why did VAR say Jeremy Doku and Alexis Mac Allister 'both come in high'?

Sky Sports' Peter Smith has picked out two issues with the officials' explanation for not awarding Liverpool a penalty late on against Man City for Jeremy Doku's high challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.

Liverpool wanted a penalty in the final minute of a thrilling Anfield encounter against their title rivals that ended 1-1, but referee Michael Oliver waved away their calls and VAR Stuart Attwell stuck with the on-field decision.

The audio of the officials' deliberations was released on Monday night in the latest edition of Match Officials Mic'd Up, revealing that they ruled in City's favour because "they both come in high" and Doku made contact with the ball.

Head of referees Howard Webb said the VAR was right not to overturn the decision, but Smith argues that the outcome contradicts previous guidance and fails to acknowledge Mac Allister's feet being on the ground.

"It's extremely unsatisfactory for Liverpool fans looking at that explanation. Two things for me: they say that Doku gets the ball, but on those super slo-mos you can see that Mac Allister gets there first.

"So it comes off Mac Allister's chest, catches Doku's boot and then goes away. Even if Doku does get there first, Howard Webb has set a bit of a precedent.

"[Tottenham defender] Cristian Romero on Enzo Fernandez in the Chelsea game goes through, gets the ball but gets Enzo. At that point Howard Webb says it is not about getting the ball first. If you carry on and hit the player, which Doku has done with Mac Allister, that can be a foul.

"The other thing is [when the VAR says] they both come in high. Well Doku has his boot up here and Mac Allister is trying to chest the ball, his feet have barely left the ground, if at all.

"So when they both come in high, they come