VAR Controversy: Did Liverpool Get Away with One?

Former referee Keith Hackett believes Liverpool were fortunate to escape a penalty in their victory over Crystal Palace.

In a recent article for The Telegraph, Hackett argued that Virgil van Dijk’s clear pull on Marc Guehi should have resulted in a spot-kick for the Eagles. Despite the incident being reviewed by VAR, the on-field decision was upheld.

“It was a clear and obvious penalty,” Hackett stated. “The fact that VAR didn’t intervene is frankly pathetic.”

Controversial Decision

The Premier League subsequently released a statement explaining their decision, claiming that the challenge was not sustained holding and had no impact on the play. However, this explanation has been met with widespread criticism.

Many fans and pundits agree with Hackett’s assessment, arguing that van Dijk’s actions clearly constitute a foul. Liverpool’s opponents will undoubtedly feel aggrieved by the decision, which could have had a significant impact on the outcome of the match.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

We believe the decision not to award Crystal Palace a penalty was the correct one. While some may argue that Virgil van Dijk’s pull on Marc Guehi was a foul, we contend that the referee and VAR officials made the right call.

As the PGMOL statement confirmed and to which Liverpool Head Coach Arne Slot agreed there was no sustained holding and the incident would have had no direct impact on the phase of play.

In conclusion, we believe the VAR decision was correct. While some may disagree, it’s important to remember that these decisions are made in real time and are subject to human error.