Liverpool demand REVIEW into use of VAR in Merseyside derby draw with club angered Jordan Pickford escaped punishment for challenge on Virgil van Dijk and asking to know what part of Sadio Mane was deemed offside in buildup to disallowed late winner
Liverpool have requested a review into the use of VAR after the technology was dragged into yet more controversy during the Merseyside derby draw.
The Premier League champions were left openly infuriated following their 2-2 thriller with Everton at Goodison Park, with the pulsating clash having been marred by two glaring moments of confusion.
Jordan Pickford escaped punishment after careering into Virgil van Dijk, forcing the defender off the field, and a last-gasp Jordan Henderson strike was ruled out for the tightest of offside calls.
Liverpool requested a review into the use of VAR after controversy in the Merseyside derby
Jordan Pickford’s reckless lunge on Virgil van Dijk after only six minutes had gone unpunished
It is understood that Liverpool have pointed out both incidents as moments that will need to be cleared up.
Everton appeared in real danger of being reduced to ten men just six minutes into the clash after goalkeeper Pickford, who did little to wave away uncertainty over his starting spot, launched into a challenge on Van Dijk.
The challenge was undeniably high and reckless, with the towering Dutch international caught between Pickford’s legs and soon being substituted off due to the collision.
The Everton goalkeeper raced out to Van Dijk and his challenge soon forced the defender off
It soon surfaced that the VAR, David Coote, had reviewed the tackle to check for a potential penalty of offside.
Van Dijk was discovered to have narrowly strayed beyond the last man, but there was bizarrely no further reviews to punish Pickford.
Liverpool are said to be enraged that the tackle which brought an early end to the defender’s game was not further looked at.
Jordan Henderson (L) netted a late goal from a pullback but the strike was ruled out for offside
A long VAR review chalked off the goal with Sadio Mane judged to have strayed narrowly off
The Reds even appeared to have netted a last-gasp winner through skipper Henderson after Sadio Mane’s pullback, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.
Replays showed it was the forward who was judged to have been offside, despite every angle and line failing to uncover a clear reason behind the call.
Liverpool will demand clarity over which part of Mane’s body was deemed to have been beyond the backline – and are also interested in finding out more behind the choice of freeze frame that VAR used to make the decision.