Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee, has asserted that VAR made an error by not granting Liverpool a penalty in the closing stages of their exciting match against Manchester City on Sunday.
The match between Jurgen Klopp’s and Pep Guardiola’s sides was regarded as a potential determinant of the championship. Nevertheless, the tie has created a situation where the competition for the crown is still undecided, as both clubs delivered an impressive performance at Anfield.
City dominated the first half and gained an advantage by scoring a goal from close range, courtesy of John Stones. Nevertheless, Liverpool swiftly responded and leveled the score only two minutes into the second half when Alexis Mac Allister successfully converted a penalty kick after Ederson committed a foul on Darwin Nunez.
In stoppage time, Liverpool persisted in their efforts and strongly believed that they deserved another penalty when Jeremy Doku made contact with Mac Allister using a high boot. Referee Michael Oliver did not give a penalty kick, as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) determined that Doku had made contact with the ball.
Klopp expressed his dissent and post-match, he insinuated that all football enthusiasts were aware that it should have been a penalty. Clattenburg, currently serving as a referee advisor for Nottingham Forest, expressed his disapproval of the decision made by VAR in his column for the Daily Mail.
“Liverpool deserved a penalty in stoppage time against Manchester City. However, the current issue in the Premier League is that referees are making errors during matches and are not receiving sufficient assistance from their Video Assistant Referees (VARs),” he stated.
The ball rebounds. Alexis Mac Allister approaches it. Jeremy Doku has a high foot. He strikes Mac Allister in the chest.
