Liverpool Aims for Redemption in Europa League After VAR Controversy
Liverpool is set to seek redemption in the Europa League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise following the recent VAR controversy during their Premier League match against Tottenham.
The past few days have been challenging for Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham, with a last-minute own goal by Joel Matip sealing their fate. However, the Premier League fixture was marred by yet another VAR mistake when Luis Diaz’s goal was disallowed for offside, despite replays suggesting otherwise.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body responsible for Premier League referees, acknowledged a “significant human error” and issued an apology to Liverpool. Nevertheless, Liverpool described the error as “unacceptable” and pledged to “explore the range of options available.”
The controversy is expected to continue as Liverpool prepares to face Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League at Anfield on Thursday, followed by a Premier League trip to Brighton. Here are the latest headlines leading up to these two matches:
Liverpool Receives Fine:
Liverpool will be fined £25,000 due to accumulating four yellow cards and two red cards during their loss at Tottenham. Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota received red cards, while Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson were booked.
Assistant manager Peter Krawietz also received a booking. Jota’s dismissal, which resulted from two yellow cards, pushed Liverpool past the Football Association’s limit of six bookings, leading to the fine. This penalty compounds Liverpool’s frustrations following the VAR controversy.
Alisson Expresses Concerns:
Goalkeeper Alisson shared his perspective on the VAR controversy in an interview with the Brazilian press. He questioned why the Premier League couldn’t implement semi-automated offsides, a system that was successfully used at the World Cup in Qatar. Alisson stated, “My position is clear, everyone saw it. I don’t like talking about arbitration, nor can we talk about arbitration. Sometimes it feels like we are prisoners. When he opens his mouth, he is punished from all sides.”
Liverpool’s Title Chances Debated:
Gary Neville, in his podcast commentary following Saturday’s game, expressed doubts about Liverpool’s ability to contend for the Premier League title following their summer transfer activity. Neville acknowledged Liverpool’s spirit and fight but noted concerns about their midfield and the absence of a true holding player. He suggested that Klopp might not challenge for the title this season but could build something special with another transfer window or two.
These headlines encapsulate the challenges and discussions surrounding Liverpool as they navigate through a challenging period in the Premier League and look for redemption in European competition.
