Sunday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Liverpool?was decided by VAR. A goal by Marcus Rashford was allowed by VAR in spite of a challenge on Divock Origi in the build-up.
Naturally, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was furious that Rashford’s opener was allowed to stand. Prior to that, it appeared that Victor Lindelof had fouled Origi in the?United?half.
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Reds players were calling for the goal to be ruled out, but referee Martin Atkinson was close to the incident and VAR backed his decision not to blow for a foul.
And now the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) has explained why the goal was not overturned.
“Firstly, the on-field referee didn?t think it was a foul and VAR checked/decided that it wasn?t a clear and obvious error to not award the foul,” the PGMOL told Sky Sports.
“Secondly, VAR isn?t re-refereeing matches – there is contact but VAR was comfortable it wasn?t enough to disallow the goal.”
Shortly after Rashford’s goal, Liverpool thought they had an equaliser when Sadio Mane fired home.
However, VAR again went against Klopp’s side when it picked up a handball from Mane.
Liverpool eventually got their equaliser, as substitute Adam Lallana poked home at the far post from a cross five minutes from time.
The draw ended Liverpool’s run of consecutive Premier League victories one short of Manchester City’s record 18.
Klopp said afterwards that?Rashford’s goal highlighted all the problems with VAR.
He said of United: “They were better than us and defended well, but in the end they scored a goal that shows all the problems with VAR.
“Mr Atkinson let the game run on because that is the protocol of VAR, and VAR shows there was contact and it was a foul.
“We then scored a goal that was disallowed. Pretty much everything went against us today, but we still didn’t lose. We deserved the point, 100 per cent.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness believed Rashford’s goal should have been chalked off, saying of Lindelof’s challenge: “If you’re kicked from behind it’s a foul. He gets nothing on the ball – it has to be a foul.”
