Liverpool dropped points against Newcastle United in their bid to win the title, and it wasn’t without a hint of drama. The Premier League were forced to put out two statements surrounding VAR decisions key to the outcome at St. James’ Park.
Confidence was high after consecutive home wins against Real Madrid and Manchester City, though Arne Slot recognised the dangers scheduled away fixtures beginning with Newcastle would present his team. The hosts proved those fears to be valid with their first-half performance, during which the Reds were made to look a shadow of their usual selves.
Curtis Jones would equalise after the break, only for Liverpool to be put down once again by Anthony Gordon. Mohamed Salah added two goals to his earlier assist and with his side on the cusp of victory, it was a Magpies equaliser snatched in the final moments that put a dampener on the evening.
That said, the head coach is not able to influence the two key moments VAR got involved in during Wednesday’s clash. Here, breaks down the Premier League’s explanations for these latest decisions.
Communicated via the new Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter), VAR intervention is now more readily accessible. At St. James’ Park it was certainly needed.
After Isak put the hosts ahead with a 70mph strike in the 35th minute, VAR Stuart Attwell was required to check the build-up for any potential offside infringements. The striker was running off the shoulder of Virgil van Dijk before he collected the ball and smashed into the net from the edge of the box.
The referee’s call of goal for Newcastle United was checked and confirmed by the VAR as Isak was in an onside position,” Match Centre confirmed, explaining the assistant on the touchline’s correct choice not to raise his flag.
The rest of regulation time would play out before VAR was required for another major check, by which point Fabian Schar had just levelled the scoreline at 3-3. Liverpool were bombarding their opponent’s penalty area in search of a fourth goal that didn’t come.
Alexis Mac Allister’s 92nd-minute attempt from the edge of the penalty area ricocheted out for a Reds corner off Dan Burn, with the Argentine and his teammates complaining to referee Andy Madley it had hit the defender’s hand.
The game paused momentarily so Attwell could review the footage, though he signalled to his colleague to wave play on and therefore not award Liverpool the penalty.
The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential handball by Burn is checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming that his arm was tucked into the body,” Match Centre explained
Without the need for VAR’s involvement, Mac Allister had been shown a yellow card earlier in the match. This was his fifth of the season, meaning he will be suspended for Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.
That was one of five yellow cards the visitors were shown in tonight’s match – had they seen one more, they would have been handed an automatic £25,000 fine.
