VAR troubles continue: no camera angle to overturn Wolves' nullified goal

There were times when Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was furious with the referees after the results didn’t go his way (well, he is always furious with the referees when the results don’t go his way), and there were times when the German tactician was furious with VAR decisions. But last night, he was pretty quiet after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Wolves in the third round of the FA Cup. And the reason is simple – VAR's decision was unfair to the visitors and helped him not get embarrassed in front of the packed Anfield. Liverpool came out with a strong squad, which included new player Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah, while the relegation-threatened Wolves had to change nine first-team players and still nearly came out with a 3-2 win…until VAR got in the way.

Allison's blunder and a reserve Wolves team force a replay of the FA Cup game against Liverpool

So, what Mike Dean in the VAR room did wrong? Well, nothing, he confirmed the call on the field, which was that Toti’s backheel goal was offside, even thou the call was wrong. Reason? There was 'no definitive camera angle' to check the apparent offside. What’s even worse, Mohamed Salah’s goal was almost the same but was not ruled offside. That infuriated coach Julen Lopetegui even more.

“We can't do anything. We have talked with the referee. He was very quiet but he hears us. It was a pity because today there was VAR. He tried to explain but it wasn't very clear but, of course more or less, I will show him I think the goal is valid from our tactical camera. I have seen the replay. We are unlucky with the decision and unlucky that we have a lot of chances, enough to win the match. I'm frustrated and disappointed. The reaction is a little bit disappointed because in one way I am very proud of the players, they have deserved much more today. It was a pity that against a fantastic team they had a lot of chances and scored a third goal and I have to accept the decision, but it is not offside” said the Spaniard after the game.

Unlike Lopetegui, Klopp was pretty cool about VAR, since it has gone his way.

“I'm not sure about their third goal. We have one picture where it may look offside, but I can understand why they are angry about it. We don't want the VAR to just have one angle” said the German.

FA CUP

Third round

Friday

Manchester United – Everton 3-1 (1-1)

/Antony 4, Coady 52 og, Rashford 90+7 pen - Coady 14/

Saturday

Crystal Palace - Southampton 1-2 (1-1)

/Edouard 14 - Ward-Prowse 37, Armstrong 68/

Gillingham - Leicester 0-1 (0-0)

/Iheanacho 56/

Preston - Huddersfield 3-1 (0-0)

/Lees 60 og, Diaby 73, Browne 85 - Kamberi 57/

Reading - Watford 2-0 (1-0)

/Abrefa 45+3, Long 90+3/

Tottenham - Portsmouth 1-0 (0-0)

/Kane 50/

Blackpool - Nottingham Forest 4-1 (1-0)

/Ekpiteta 17, Poveda 64, Hamilton 71, J Yates 87 - R Yates 90+2/

Boreham Wood - Accrington 1-1 (0-1)

/Ndlovu 78 - Astley 6/

Bournemouth - Burnley 2-4 (1-3)

/Christie 12, Solanke 48 - Benson 6, 57, Zaroury 39, 43/

Chesterfield - West Brom 3-3 (3-2)

/Williams 7, Dobra 36, 41 - Thomas-Asante 2, Grant 17, Asante 90+4/

Fleetwood - QPR 2-1 (1-1)

/Nsiala 40, Omochere 67 - Field 37/

Hull - Fulham 0-2 (0-1)

/Kurzawa 37, James 90+4/

Ipswich - Rotherham 4-1 (1-0)

/Humphreys 43, Chaplin 74 pen, Ladapo 79, Burns 87 pen - Washington 47 pen/

Middlesbrough - Brighton 1-5 (1-2)

/Akpom 13 - Gross 8, Lallana 29, Mac Allister 58, 80, Undav 88/

Millwall - Sheffield United 0-2 (0-2)

/Jebbison 23, Bogle 36/

Shrewsbury - Sunderland 1-2 (0-0)

/Pennington 80 - Stewart 90+1, O'Nien 90+4/

Brentford - West Ham 0-1 (0-0)

/Benrahma 79/

Coventry - Wrexham 3-4 (1-3)

/Shaef 36, Gyokeres 69, Palmer 76 - Dalby 12, Lee 18, O'Connor 45+6, Mullin 58 pen/

Grimsby - Burton 1-0 (0-0)

/Richardson 76/

Luton - Wigan 1-1 (1-1)

/Cornick 45+1 - Naylor 17/

Sheffield Wednesday - Newcastle United 2-1 (0-0)

/Windass 52, 65 - Guimaraes 69/

Liverpool - Wolverhampton x-x (1-1)

/Nunez 45, Salah 52 - Guedes 26, Hwang 67/

Sunday

15:30 Bristol City - Swansea City

15:30 Derby County - Barnsley

17:00 Cardiff City - Leeds United

17:00 Hartlepool United - Stoke City

17:00 Norwich City - Blackburn Rovers

17:00 Stockport County – Walsall

19:30 Aston Villa - Stevenage

19:30 Manchester City - Chelsea

Monday

23:00 Oxford United - Arsenal

***odds are subject to change***