The VAR in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday has been criticized for making a “baffling” error.
Liverpool dominated their rivals at Old Trafford, continuing their perfect start to the new Premier League season.
Luis Diaz scored twice in the first half, and Mohamed Salah added a goal early in the second half, ending United’s chances of a comeback.
Despite the 3-0 scoreline, which was flattering for United, Liverpool missed several opportunities to increase their lead and might have been awarded a penalty on another day.
In the second half, United defender Noussair Mazraoui appeared to clip Cody Gakpo’s leg. Referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue, leading to a missed shot by Darwin Nunez.
However, the incident wasn’t reviewed by VAR, led by John Brooks and assistant VAR Harry Lennard—a decision that former Liverpool star Neil Mellor found puzzling.
Mellor took to X to share images of the incident, arguing that it was a clear penalty that VAR should have addressed.
“The referee saw the foul on Gakpo and indicated advantage… Nunez shot wide,” Mellor wrote. “Contact was inside the area… so why didn’t VAR tell him it should be a penalty?”
Although the decision didn’t impact the final result, it added to fans’ frustration with VAR’s inconsistent application and referees’ rule enforcement.
On Saturday, Arsenal fans were also upset when Declan Rice received a second yellow card for delaying play by kicking the ball away, even though Brighton’s Joao Pedro wasn’t penalized for a similar offense.
Liverpool will aim to continue their winning streak when they face Nottingham Forest after the international break.
