Former Premier League ref Mark Halsey insists Liverpool's first minute Champions League final penalty was legitimate.

A hand-ball awarded against Moussa Sissoko saw Mohamed Salah convert his spotkick and set Liverpool on their way to a 2-0 win.

Writing for The Sun, Halsey insisted: "Moussa Sissoko made it very easy for referee Damir Skomina to point to the penalty spot after just 22 seconds.

"Sadio Mane's cross hit the armpit of the Tottenham midfielder and then rolled onto his arm.

"The Slovenian official was always going to award a penalty.

"VAR automatically checked the award of the spot-kick but the decision was always going to be the same because of the directive that was given by Uefa's head of refs Roberto Rosetti in the Champions League this season.

"Rosetti revealed at a briefing before the knock-out stages in January that there were three things, regardless of whether the act was deliberate or not, for Skomina to consider.

"1) There is movement of the hand towards the ball

"2) The distance between the players

"3) The position of the hand or arm

"Sissoko made a movement with his arm towards the ball, there was distance between Mane and the Frenchman, who also made himself bigger with his right arm high in the air.

"When you have your arm in a position like that then you always run the risk of conceding a penalty.

"Under Uefa interpretation, Skomina had no other option and that is why there was no reason for VAR to recommend a review."