Saturday's clash between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield was a tightly contested affair, but it wasn't just the players who came under scrutiny—officials faced heavy criticism for their handling of a recurring issue that has plagued the Premier League this season.

Referee Craig Pawson had a busy afternoon, with both teams seeing second-half goals disallowed for offside and penalty appeals turned down. However, the most contentious moment came in the 79th minute when Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk saw his header crash off the crossbar while being held by Chelsea's Moises Caicedo. Despite the Reds' pleas for a spot kick, Pawson decided both players were equally guilty, waving play on.

This decision sparked outrage from former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, who didn't mince words when speaking to Football Insider. "The referee and VAR just turn a blind eye to this type of grappling in the penalty area," Hackett said. "The answer they give is that both players are grappling, so it cancels the offence out. That's not how the rules work. Until the PGMOL management clearly states they will apply the law, this will continue. Doing nothing is allowing these offences to increase."

Journalist Henry Winter was equally scathing, taking to social media to vent his frustration. "It's a joke how much grappling has been allowed by officials at corners in the Premier League this season," he fumed.

The statistics tell their own story—Pawson awarded 34 free kicks in total, 17 for each side—but critics argue that more proactive officiating is needed to clean up the penalty area. For now, the debate rages on, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering when the authorities will finally take a stand.