Former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg says referee Mike Dean didn't need to stop the play in the build-up to Diogo Jota's equaliser against Newcastle United.
Liverpool went a goal down to Eddie Howe's side inside 10 minutes but Jota put the hosts back on level terms shortly after.
The Portuguese international scored while Newcastle's Isaac Hayden was down with what appeared to be a head injury and the visitors were left aggrieved that play wasn't halted.
However, Clattenburg insists it's the official's call whether to stop the game and there's nothing in the law which states he has to.
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He wrote in his column for the Daily Mail : "There is nothing in the laws which says Mike Dean had to stop play because Isaac Hayden was down with a head injury.
"It is common practice that the referee will halt play for this sort of injury, though, so you can understand why Newcastle were aggrieved that play continued and Liverpool scored.
"Instead Dean let the attacking phase come to a completion and it resulted in a goal. Newcastle may be upset but the rules aren't on their side. It's up to the referee."
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe believes his side were 'harshly treated' in the defeat to Liverpool after Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold went on to score another two for the home side.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," he told the media after the game. "Isaac was holding his head immediately and the priority has to be the safety of the player.
"I felt it was a wrong decision and we've been harshly treated today."
