Jarrod Bowen was feeling down but far from out after West Ham United's 2-1 home Premier League defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday evening.
The Hammers got themselves in front against the Reds through Paquetá's early 25-yarder, only for Cody Gakpo to peg the hosts back minutes later.
Bowen thought he had fired West Ham back into the lead ten minutes after half-time, when he raced onto the Brazilian's pass and lashed low past Alisson, only for a VAR review to find him half-a-yard offside.
And the Irons' frustration levels rose as first Joël Matip headed Liverpool in front, then when referee Chris Kavanagh ruled that Thiago had not handled the ball in added-time when the ball came off Danny Ings' boot and hit the Reds midfielder's left arm.
Speaking to West Ham TV, Bowen admitted he no longer knows what represents handball inside the opposition 18-yard-box, such have been the changes to the laws and their interpretation in recent seasons.
It could have gone either way.
We knew they would have a lot of the ball and they are a good team, there is no denying that. With the way they play, there were times we had to suffer without the ball, and there were times when we had to go and put the pressure on and I think we got the balance right.
The goals were just a disappointment on our behalf. One was from a set-piece, on which we usually pride ourselves on defensively and offensively, and the other one sees Gakpo shoot, and we probably could have got a bit closer to it.
It was disappointing on our behalf, to give them those goals, but there were some positives from this that we can take into Saturday’s game.
I think the manner of the loss, going back to the Newcastle game, was more frustrating because we weren’t at it at all.
The last few weeks we’ve been at it to a better level, closer to what we expect of ourselves. Even tonight, there were times when we could have been better on the ball, but I also thought there were times when we looked dangerous.
I haven’t seen the handball decision back.
We just had a chat then and they’re saying it should have been a penalty, but it’s one of them. One day you get it and one day you don’t. I haven’t actually seen it back. I thought, at the time, he slid in to try and win the ball back. It was different to if he was falling. He’s kind of slid in and the ball has hit his trailing arm. I thought it was going to get given but it didn’t.
I think, when it hits someone’s hand now, you just expect it to be a handball.
But the rules have changed so much and you never know where you can put your hands in the box. You never know, when you’re trying to block a cross, if your arms are two centimetres away from your body then is it going to be a penalty?
So tonight, like I said, I thought his arm was out and the ball hit his arm. It might not be a penalty and it might be soft but, if we’re going off the rules for what we say a penalty is, then we have to be consistent with it.
But I haven’t seen it back, just heard it should have been a penalty. But we didn’t get it, it’s disappointing, and next time we’ve got a massive game.
I feel fit.
It’s a difficult schedule at the minute. It’s game after game after game. But, for me personally, I love playing football and I love playing for this Club. I wear the shirt with pride and I love it.
A game every three days? I look forward to that. I think the position that we’re in, I want to step up for the Club and help. That’s my main aim between now and the end of the season.
Roy Hodgson has gone back to Crystal Palace and got them firing again.
It’s also difficult when you go to Selhurst Park with the atmosphere they create. But we can go there full of confidence I think. Especially with our recent performances and results we’ve picked.
“This game was a kick in the teeth but we’ll bounce back from that. We’ve got a real spirit in this group to bounce back from disappointment so we’ll do that again.
