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Premier League officials and VAR are annoying enough; they might cost Liverpool the title.

In the Christmas edition of his monthly Liverpool column, John Aldridge discusses the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday and looks ahead to today’s match against Burnley.

The weekly officiating standards we witness in the Premier League have me really concerned.

It’s beyond comprehension how Martin Odegaard’s handball against Liverpool on Saturday night went unnoticed. How in the world could referee Chris Kavanagh miss that when I could see it from high up in the stands while providing game commentary? It was blatantly obvious.

Being on VAR, David Coote decided it wasn’t worth sending Kavanagh to the pitchside monitor for. Honestly, it just defies comprehension. Coote has caused us problems in the past, most notably when Jordan Pickford ended Virgil van Dijk’s season while he was using VAR and didn’t even receive a yellow card.

Even though this was the easiest choice Coote would have to make all season, he still made the incorrect choice. Odegaard’s hand is now in the ball’s direction. That is definitely a foul if it was outside the box. What makes it different from anywhere else on the pitch if it’s in the penalty area?

It seemed strange since it was played down on television and not given the same level of scrutiny as many decisions. It is shambolic in its poverty. The fact that VAR failed to identify it is inexplicable.

When Odegaard saw Salah advancing past him with the ball, he became alarmed, and we all followed suit. Though it is a ridiculous call that cannot be ignored, this shouldn’t overshadow what was a fantastic game. After this, Coote need to be off duty for two weeks since you never know what impact this might have in the future.

We might end up second in the league or first depending on this incorrect call. After the scandal with Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal against Tottenham Hotspur, we now have to deal with another shameful judgement. When will this be over? In the event that it’s a tie, you can understand. But what has Coote observed that has prevented him from reporting it, given that it was an obvious penalty?

Moving past VAR, Arsenal deserves some credit for at least creating a fun game. They had a purpose when they came to Anfield, unlike Manchester United, and they should be pleased with how they played. Under their boss, they are developing as a team, and it is evident how much they have changed.

More than anything else, our draw with Arsenal was a fantastic outcome for Manchester City. After seeing how that turned out, they will have been thrilled and will now be looking forward to our and Arsenal’s pursuit. Without a doubt, once De Bruyne is healthy, they will return with a fight.

We poured forward in the second half and Trent Alexander-Arnold had a chance to win the game for us when he struck the crossbar. It was unfortunate that he did not receive a true pass. A striker in that position would guide the ball and allow it to leave their foot. Trent aimed for power, which is why it only went a little bit high, but his effort and rushing to claim the spot demonstrated how important it was to him. Once again, he was among the top players on the pitch because of his immense influence. It was absurd how he assisted Salah in scoring.

Injuries beginning to bite

It was devastating to lose Kostas Tsimikas on Saturday night; he had made an impression without Andy Robertson. It was an awful injury. Our current lack of a healthy senior left-back is a serious concern. It’s a waiting game till Robertson returns, which should happen at least next month, which will be fantastic.

Joe Gomez is someone we absolutely need to keep healthy because if we lose him, we’ll have a serious issue. Gomez is the epitome of versatility; he can play centre back, right back, and left back. He is a huge addition to the squad because of this. He’ll probably have to cover for Tsimikas at left back. James Milner is no longer in the picture, thus others will have to fill in as needed.

Jota and Robertson must be on the verge of returning, as must Alexis Mac Allister. We are unaware of Bajcetic, and I’m beginning to lose hope in Thiago because I have no idea what has transpired there. I’m praying Luis Diaz’s injury is not too severe. It would be horrible to lose him for an extended period of time once more.

Liverpool’s next opponent is Burnley later this afternoon, and they will be fierce after winning convincingly against Fulham on Saturday.

December 27, 2023
Following a VAR error, Tottenham vs. Liverpool may be rescheduled under Premier League rules.

The Premier League’s own rules state that such a decision is permissible, but the incensed Reds have not demanded that the game be restarted after officials’ gaffe resulted in Luis Diaz’s goal being disallowed.

If a commission appointed by the Premier League decides that the match officials violated the Laws of the Game in denying Luis Diaz’s goal, Tottenham Hotspur’s match against Liverpool may be replayed.

Following Saturday night’s embarrassing gaffe, the referees’ association PGMOL is working to be as open and transparent as they can.
However, they won’t release the audio of the incident until Liverpool has had a chance to examine what interactions occurred between the referee Simon Hooper, the VAR Darren England, and his assistant Dan Cook.

Hooper served as the fourth official in Monday night’s match between Fulham and Chelsea, suggesting that he has been cleared of blame.
However, PGMOL has suspended both England and Cook.

The Reds did not request that the game be redone, but they did say in a carefully worded statement that they would “explore the range of options, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.

Experts say that suggests they have already sought legal counsel, and should they decide to lobby for a replay of the game after listening to the audio, there is a path for that to occur.

“Rule L18 outlines that the Premier League board has the power to order a league match to be replayed provided that a recommendation to that effect has been made by a commission under rule W51,” Stephen Taylor Heath, co-head of Sports Law at JMW Solicitors, said in an interview with Mirror Football.

“In addition, rule W1 gives the Premier League board the authority to investigate any suspected rule violation, including one committed by a match official, and rule N4 ensures that each match official agrees to be bound by the laws of the game as well as any protocols and FA rules.

More news…….

Despite the PGMOL apology and the VAR controversy at Tottenham, Liverpool still faces FA fine.

The controversial loss to Tottenham left Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp incensed, and the prospect of an impending fine is not likely to make him feel any better.

As a result of the VAR controversy in their loss to Tottenham, Liverpool may be required to pay a sizable FA fine.

After Curtis Jones received a red card in North London, the Reds were reduced to nine men.
As a result of two flagrant infractions, Diogo Jota was seen leaving the field behind him.

Liverpool continued to voice its displeasure.
The PGMOL apologized for a glaring “human error” in disallowing Luiz Diaz’s first-half goal that was ruled out for offside.

The Merseysiders’ situation could get worse as they may be required to pay a £25k fine.
Along with the two dismissals, numerous Liverpool players also received warnings.

In addition to Peter Krawietz, the assistant manager, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Virgil van Dijk all received cautions from the referee.

Liverpool visited Tottenham with five bookings, which is a requirement that the FA typically penalizes clubs that meet.

For those who receive six or more cautions in a single game, the penalty is typically a £25k fine.
Now it is up to the organization that oversees the sport to decide whether to punish Klopp’s team severely.

Liverpool could possibly escape punishment, though, given the circumstances surrounding the card’s issuance. Any fine will most likely make Jurgen Klopp feel worse. The refereeing decisions that were made against his team left the German incensed.

After his team lost by a score of 2-1, he said, “I was never more proud of the team than today.
I’ve never witnessed a game with such absurd decisions and the most unfair conditions.

“We scored an own goal, which is extremely difficult to accept, but I am extremely proud.
Curtis steps on the ball and is given the first red card. An excellent tackle, Slow motion alters how it appears. He oversteps the ball and charges it with all of his strength.
That’s bad luck.
The initial shade of yellow [for Diogo Jota] wasn’t one.
He then receives a second opportunity, making it challenging to defend with nine players.

It was an offside goal, he continued.
As you can see, they drew their lines incorrectly; that is not offside.
They drew the line incorrectly and failed to recognize the appropriate moment when Mo passed the ball.
The ball is now between Mo’s legs.
Dealing with it is incredibly difficult.

The officials who made the decisions against Liverpool may receive a fine from the FA, but they have already suffered the repercussions.
At Sunday’s match between Nottingham Forest and Brentford at the City Ground, Darren England, who was serving as the game’s VAR official, was replaced as the fourth official

October 4, 2023
Cody Gakpo injury latest, release of VAR audio, and Jamie Carragher’s assertion.

The most recent information on Cody Gakpo, Darren England, Howard Webb, PGMOL, and Luis Diaz’s goal that was disallowed is included in the Liverpool transfer news, rumors, gossip, and speculation.

We’ll keep you updated on PGMOL’s progress as they reportedly prepare to make public the audio at the center of the controversy surrounding Luis Diaz’s goal, which was disallowed in the team’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

We’ll also have the most recent information on Cody Gakpo, who according to reports may recover from his injury after the international break and in time for the Merseyside derby on October 21.

PGMOL is “leaning toward” an audio release.

Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail made yet another prediction that PGMOL will grant Liverpool what they have expressly asked for.

The reporter shared a link to an update claiming PGMOL officials were “split” over the need to release the officials’ audio from the Luis Diaz incident at 11:04 p.m. last night on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Five minutes later, however, Steele returned to social media to clarify what he meant when he used the word “split,” writing: “But PGMOL are leaning towards releasing the recording to LFC, and then the club can continue their investigation into what happened and take whatever steps they see fit from there.

Supporters may not get much clarity from this route, but if the club responded, it would be very clear if they had access to the audio first.

VAR audio ‘a matter of when, rather than if’

The Telegraph’s Ben Rumsby and Chris Bascombe published an article last night at 9:31 p.m. that included everything they knew about the situation surrounding PGMOL’s decision regarding the release of the VAR audio from Saturday’s game.

The audio footage that resulted in the incorrect decision was requested in writing by Liverpool. In summary, everyone who is connected to the Reds wanted to hear this late-night update.

In a move that could signal an overhaul of the video assistant referee system, Howard Webb is prepared to give in to pressure and release recordings documenting the Liverpool offside-goal incident.

An official request for the Var audio of the failed award of Luis Diaz’s goal in their dramatic Premier League loss at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday has now been received by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which Webb leads.

PGMOL remained silent in response to the request last night, indicating that it was now a matter of when, rather than if, it would be granted in light of an ongoing internal review of what went wrong and what should be done to fix it.

All of Jamie Carragher’s comments regarding the VAR debacle, Howard Webb, and a potential Liverpool replay.

Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player, was one person who was not present for the live TV debates this weekend. He was also not present for the Sunday game between Nottingham Forest and Brentford, nor was he present at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with Sky Sports, where people like Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp were.

But Carra was back on our televisions last night for Monday Night Football, this time with Frank Lampard, the manager of Everton and a former midfielder for Chelsea, and in typical Carra fashion, he criticized PGMOL’s use of VAR during the Reds’ most recent match.

Here is everything he said in response regarding VAR, Howard Webb, and the notion of Tottenham and Liverpool replaying the game for those of you who might have missed the show.

fears about Cody Gakpo’s injury allayed.

The Athletic reports that Cody Gakpo will only be absent from Liverpool’s subsequent two games after the international break.

Gakpo was replaced moments after tying the score for the Reds in North London, and Jurgen Klopp later confirmed that the forward left the stadium wearing a leg brace.

Big relief, Reds!

October 3, 2023
The Premier League has made the VAR audio from Virgil van Dijk’s red card for Liverpool public – “Don’t do anything silly!”

Virgil van Dijk was sent off in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Audio footage of the decision-making process behind Virgil van Dijk’s red card in Liverpool’s win at Newcastle United was released last night.

The Reds captain was controversially sacked in the first half of Jurgen Klopp’s side’s 2-1 win at St James’ Park after a foul on Aleksander Isak on the edge of the box.

Van Dijk could not believe referee John Brooks’ decision to send him off, although this incident was reviewed and resolved by Stuart Attwell.

The Liverpool number 4 served a one-game ban for their weekend clash, missing out on the 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

However, his suspension could be extended to two games after being charged with an FA violation.

An insight into how match officials made the decision to sack Van Dijk was provided by Sky Sports on Match Officials: Mic’d Up, hosted by Michael Owen and featuring Howard Webb.
The show discussed six controversial calls from the ongoing awareness campaign.

Focusing on Van Dijk, Attwell started the VAR conversation by saying, “APP (offensive possession phase). Possible offside.
Possible DOGSO (denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity).

Referee Brooks can then be heard responding, saying, “It’s outside [the box], out, out.” And it’s a red card.
He finished and overtook the man, red card.

The next phase of the dialogue between Attwell and Brooks continues: VAR: “Delay, delay.
Let’s see, man.”

Brooks: ‘No. It comes through the man.
It comes through the man, through the man to play the ball.’

VAR: “Okay, can you move it?
Do you have another angle on the touchpoint please?

Okay, that’s clearly a fault. Brooksy, this is Stuart, I’m glad for the foul.
I will only check the sanction and the APP, on standby.

Ok, so I’m happy… .freeze it there, freeze it there.
Alright, so the ball will roll past him.
Without the movement challenge, the attacker has their position.
He goes straight into the penalty area, that’s good.”

Brooks is then heard speaking directly to Van Dijk, telling the defense attorney, “They will reconsider [the decision].

And that’s not the case, he enters.
» They will check, they will check.
hold on! I’ll tell you when you need to go, right away.

It’s clearly a mistake, they just checked the scene.
don’t do anything stupid Look, you will be sent off unless he [Isak] is flagged offside.
It’s very tight.”

After the VAR confirmed that he was satisfied with the call-up on the pitch, Brooks said the following parting words to the Dutch international: ‘Free kick.
Go Go! Go, now.
Yes, no offsides.”

Webb shared his thoughts on why Brooks was right to expose a red card, telling Owen: ‘We think this is good communication on a John Brooks foul and ultimately we see Van Dijk play the ball but to get there , clearly kicks Isak’s foot and thus deprives him of a goal opportunity.

“He IS close to goal, he will be able to control the ball quite easily and there are no defensive backs.
And of course we know that the direction is towards goal.
It’s a DOGSO.

“Van Dijk doesn’t feel protected that if it happened inside the penalty area it would have been a yellow card for trying to play the ball or asking for the ball.
He’s outside the penalty area so he still has to happen to be a red card for DOGSO.

“If that happens outside the penalty area, even if the defender tries to play the ball, as Van Dijk did, the fact that he has committed an infringement means that he should be sent off in this circumstance.
It’s quite a situation.
clear.

More news…….

Mohamed Salah has “agreement” with Saudi Arabia as Liverpool transfer offer for $38m star ‘awaited’

Media Digest: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has reportedly agreed a deal with Al Ittihad as a Bundesliga side face a $38m transfer bid.

Offer from Manu Koné “expected”

Bundesliga outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach ‘expect’ Liverpool to make an offer for midfielder Manu Koné before the transfer deadline expires, BILD’s Christian Falk writes in his daily briefing. Koné is now back from injury and could be available for a relatively cheap price.

“There is also Manu Koné to consider (for Liverpool),” Falk wrote. “I have heard that Gladbach are also expecting an offer from Liverpool soon, as they have become cheaper after his injury.” “Before, a suitor had to pay about $54 million; now you may be able to get it for around $38 million. So it’s up to Liverpool to take the next step. PSG are still interested in Kone, so there could be serious competition for the player if Liverpool enter the fray.”

Wataru Endō was signed from Stuttgart last week, but getting another player across the line for midfield wouldn’t be a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t hinder a future signing of a player Liverpool really want. (i.e. the later Moisés Caicedo).

Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia latest

Italian journalist Rudy Galetti has said Mohamed Salah would be open to a contract with Saudi side Al Ittihad, but the final decision would depend on Liverpool’s decision to raise funds – and the Reds are not among those keen to participate.

TV channel beIN Sports (via Al Jazeera) reported earlier this week that Salah has agreed a salary package with the Saudi Arabian outfit, but the final decision will rest with Liverpool. At this point in the summer, losing Salah would be unthinkable.

It makes sense that a massive salary is on offer for one of the biggest and most marketable players in the world. Neymar moved to Saudi Arabia, but Salah would surpass even that figure.

However, it would be a disappointment if the player chose money over staying in the best and most competitive league in the world. For Liverpool, the sooner a Salah switch can be categorically ruled out, the better.

September 6, 2023