Graeme Souness said Jurgen Klopp’s side “got away with one”
VAR is yet again facing renewed scrutiny after Fulham were denied a penalty at home against Liverpool.
As Fulham attacker Ivan Cavaleiro looked to square the ball across the penalty area, he looked to have been tripped by Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
Referee Andre Marriner’s initial reaction was to award a corner, and not a penalty. However, it looked dubious. VAR was called into action – in particular Lee Mason, the official on video duties.
Sky’s commentary duo of Bill Leslie and Jamie Carragher agreed. From the angle behind the players, it looked like Fabinho played the ball, but the camera angle behind the goal told a different story.
From that angle, it looked as if Fabinho caught Cavaleiro’s left leg.
🎙 – "I'm delighted that a referee has stuck with his original decision!"
They took their time with this decision, but did VAR get it right? 🤔
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After lengthy deliberation which lasted almost three minutes, Marriner stuck with his original decision not to award a penalty.
However, for many watching at home it raised more questions about VAR than it answered. Why did it take so long? Did Fabinho make enough contact on the ball?
Speaking at half-time as a pundit on Sky Sports, Graeme Souness thought Liverpool got lucky with the decision.
“I think it is a penalty. I think when we see the challenge coming in he actually takes the Fulham player’s leg so he can’t plant it on the ground.
“I think Liverpool have got away with one there. Watch, he makes contact with the foot first which knocks his foot away from being able to plant it on the ground and he [Cavaleiro] ends up kicking the ball out of play.
“I think he [Marriner] has got enough time [to review the incident]. This is clear and obvious to me, if he sees that angle there he has made contact with the Fulham player’s leg and that prevents him from planting his left leg to cross the ball with his right leg.”
The match ended 1-1. Fulham took the lead through Bobby Decordova-Reid, but a 79th-minute penalty from Mohamed Salah rescued a point for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
