Liverpool fans went through an emotional rollercoaster during their 3-2 win at Newcastle United.

Although nobody thought the trip to St. James' Park would be an easy one, supporters didn't predict that their Premier League challenge would be on the ropes with just four minutes to go.

Virgil van Dijk initially had his opening goal neutralised by a Christian Atsu strike, while a smart finish from Mohamed Salah was then met with a goal from Salomon Rondon.

As a result, Liverpool were left chasing a winner to apply the pressure on Manchester City, otherwise they would have the chance to win the Premier League against Leicester City.

That oh-so crucial goal would eventually come in the form of a Divock Origi header, his second dramatic winner of this season and this time from a Xherdan Shaqiri free-kick.

Liverpool's controversial winner

There was nothing controversial about the goal itself, but there were definitely a few eye-brows raised about the 'foul' that saw Andre Marriner award the set-piece. 

Many left that Fabinho dived under the challenge from Matt Ritchie - who vehemently protested the decision - and the match footage doesn't look good for Liverpool.

However, nobody knows the rules of the game better than referee themselves and former Premier League Mark Halsey has now cast his opinion on the controversy.

Halsey: Fabinho was very clever

According to the Mirror, he explained: "The free-kick for the winning goal should not have been awarded. Fouls are subjective decisions for referees but I felt it was not a free-kick.

"Fabinho was very clever, he's gone to ground very easily and assistant referee Simon Long has fallen for the free-kick.

"I am sure when referee Andre Marriner watches the video back he will not be pleased with his assistant's decision to flag for a free-kick.

"Newcastle's Matt Ritchie is a very honest player and I can understand his frustration at the free-kick being awarded."

Pretty conclusive then, Halsey believes Liverpool were very lucky indeed.

We can only speak hypothetically about what would have happened if Liverpool weren't given the free-kick, but the likelihood of a draw would increase massively.

However, not everybody would be convinced with Halsey's explanation and Jamie Carragher expressed a far more mixed review in the Sky Sports studio.

"I felt like he gave it not because it was a foul but when someone has a nibble, he got really tight. It was stupid from Ritchie and clever from Fabinho," the club legend explained.

"If Fabinho had gone done for the first touch then he would have got the free kick so the foul was almost given for the first contact rather than the end when he threw himself to the floor.

Do you think Fabinho dived? Have your say in the comments section below.