Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has dropped his verdict on whether or not VAR should have intervened in one moment during Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool.
Manchester United suffered their second consecutive Premier League defeat this season after Liverpool produced a convincing 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
Luis Diaz netted twice in the first half for Liverpool before Mohamed Salah sealed all three points for Arne Slot’s men in the second half by adding his side’s third.
Liverpool have won all three Premier League matches under Arne Slot, who replaced former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in the summer.
However, United have only managed to secure a possible three points out of nine in their opening three Premier League fixtures under manager Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils are now 14th in the Premier League table before the start of the September international break.
Erik ten Hag’s men will travel away to the St Mary’s after the international break for their Premier League clash with Southampton on 14th September.
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Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher was asked about three different incidents that occurred during Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool.
One of the incidents included Noussair Mazraoui going in for a late challenge on Cody Gakpo inside the box in the 89th minute of the match.
The challenge happened near the edge of the area – potentially outside of it – with Darwin Nunez subsequently scooping up the loose ball and firing wide of Ande Onana’s right-hand post.
Referee Anthony Taylor signalled that he had played advantage before the ball went out and VAR checked for a possible penalty in the dying stages of the match.
However, VAR did not intervene on Noussair Mazraoui’s challenge and Gallagher said that VAR was “never going” against Anthony Taylor’s decision due to his view.
“The referee makes the decision, he’s very close when it happens,” he said.
“There is a touch, he does step on his foot.
“Does he do that because he’s put it in front of him? On-field call, you’re never going to have the VAR go against him because he’s got the best view.”
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Gallagher on VAR against Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold thought he had fired Liverpool into an early lead before VAR ruled that Mohamed Salah was in an offside position in the build-up to the opener.
Despite Trent Alexander-Arnold’s celebrations being cut shot, Luis Diaz would make his mark in the first half with his brace against United.
Gallagher believes that VAR made the right call to intervene against Liverpool star Trent and overrule Anthony Taylor’s initial decision.
“Right call and a good spot,” he said.
“Someone asked whether he deliberately played it – that doesn’t matter, he played it, it went to a colleague who scored. It’s offside.”
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