An excellent match between Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis on Sunday was overshadowed by yet one more VAR controversy within the dying minutes at Anfield.
With the groups stage at 1-1, Jeremy Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister within the chest contained in the guests’ penalty space. On-field referee Michael Oliver missed it, and Stuart Attwell in Stockley Park one way or the other got here again with a carry-on verdict of ‘examine full’ regardless of the infringement being clear in replays.
Taking to X, the Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst summed up the woeful inconsistency of top-flight officiating with a picture of that incident alongside the one which earned the Reds’ Argentine midfielder a purple card within the 3-1 win over Bournemouth initially of the season.
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The journalist shared the 2 stills side-by-side and identified: “Considered one of these was deemed a excessive boot and worthy of a sending off. The opposite was apparently not even a foul. Making it up as they go alongside on per week by week, sport by sport, minute by minute foundation.”
Considered one of these was deemed a excessive boot and worthy of a sending off. The opposite was apparently not even a foul. Making it up as they go alongside on per week by week, sport by sport, minute by minute foundation. 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/owyWzBbzyE
— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) March 10, 2024
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As unhealthy as the choice to not penalise Doku felt through the match yesterday, it seems much more baffling when put next with the purple card that Mac Allister was proven towards the Cherries.
The Liverpool midfielder caught Ryan Christie boot-on-boot roughly a foot off the bottom, whereas the Metropolis winger already had his leg at chest top earlier than following by on the 25-year-old with studs displaying.
VAR failed to present a penalty as a result of they apparently deemed that the Belgian performed the ball first. Whereas he obtained a toe to it after which caught Mac Allister, his leg was already dangerously excessive earlier than making any contact with the ball.
It stated rather a lot that even Gary Neville insisted that Doku was very fortunate to keep away from being penalised, and that the purple card within the Bournemouth sport final August was swiftly overturned on attraction.
As soon as once more within the Premier League, the officers have executed their utmost to dominate the narrative and take the shine off what was an exhilarating match between two top-quality groups.
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