Liverpool went another game without conceding a penalty against Villarreal on Wednesday.The Reds took a huge step towards the Champions League final as they prevented their plucky opponents from finding the net at Anfield, helping them to a 2-0 victory in the process.The subject of Liverpool and penalties was most certainly on the minds of supporters during the semi-final first leg due to the level of debate that surrounded the Merseyside derby.

Narrative surrounding Liverpool and penalties

In what proved to be another 2-0 triumph on home soil for Liverpool, many prominent Everton figures thought they should have been awarded a penalty while the game was goalless.

Anthony Gordon, who was booked earlier in the game for simulation, appeared to be brought down in the penalty area by Joel Matip just after the break, but a penalty was quickly waved away.

It was a decision that most certainly irked Toffees boss Frank Lampard, who insinuated that there was some degree of unconscious bias by implying that Liverpool would have been given said penalty at the other end.

According to talkSPORT, Lampard said after the match: “It was a penalty. If that was Mo Salah at the other end, he gets a penalty. You don’t get them here (Anfield). That’s the reality of football sometimes."

Debate about Liverpool's penalty record

All this has led to a wider debate about whether or not Liverpool are given preferential treatment when it comes to the concession of penalties, particularly given their extraordinary statistics.

And it all came to a head on talkSPORT this week when Jim White revealed that Liverpool had gone 46 Premier League games without conceding a penalty, which is the longest run in the division.

It's certainly an eye-opening statistic and no doubt one that will add fuel to the fire of certain fans' narratives, but is it really enough to get our tinfoil hats on and suggest that there's a conspiracy going on?

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Simon Jordan on Liverpool's penalties

Well, the short answer is 'no' and the response from ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan summed up why that's the case in brilliant style, explaining Liverpool's record in the process.

With a clip of his reply having since gone viral amongst Liverpool fans on social media, Jordan didn't mince his words in typical fashion by attributing the statistics to how the Reds play.

From pointing to Jurgen Klopp's high line to their general defensive brilliance, it was a fantastic putdown of the entire narrative that has been swirling around Liverpool since the weekend, so be sure to check it out:

Well said, Simon.

Why Liverpool aren't conceding penalties

While there might be credence to suggestions of an unconscious bias in specific instances, you can't help feeling as though the Liverpool statistic is largely down to them, well, having a superb defence.

Besides, the chances are that you're not going to concede as many penalties as your rivals when you're arguably lining up with the world's best goalkeeper, right-back, left-back and centre-back for each game.

And while that won't exactly remedy the anger that many Everton fans will have been feeling on the back of their derby defeat, it does show go to show that you can take several different angles from one statistic.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Burnley - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 21, 2021 Liverpool's Alisson after conceding a penalty for a foul on Burnley's Ashley Barnes Pool via REUTERS/Jon Super EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

The simple fact of the matter is that Liverpool's defence has almost always been spot on, meaning the ball has seldom been on the spot.