VAR Criticized for ‘Baffling’ Error in Liverpool’s 3-0 Victory Over Manchester United

Liverpool’s dominant 3-0 win against Manchester United on Sunday was marred by a controversial decision from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which has been called out for a “baffling” error.

The match, held at Old Trafford, saw Liverpool maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season. A brace from Luis Diaz put Liverpool firmly in control before half-time, and Mohamed Salah’s early second-half goal sealed the victory, quashing any hopes of a United comeback.

Despite the commanding scoreline, Liverpool’s win could have been even more comprehensive. In the second half, United defender Noussair Mazraoui appeared to make contact with Cody Gakpo’s leg inside the penalty area. Referee Anthony Taylor chose to play the advantage, leading to a shot from Darwin Nunez that went wide. However, the incident was not reviewed by VAR officials John Brooks and assistant VAR Harry Lennard, a decision that former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor found perplexing.

Mellor took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration, sharing images of the incident that he believed warranted a penalty. “Referee sees foul on Gakpo and indicates advantage… Nunez shoots wide,” Mellor wrote. “Contact was inside the area… so why hasn’t VAR told him he was right and contact in area so should be a pen? Baffling decision.”

While the non-decision did not impact the final outcome, it has reignited debates about the inconsistent application of VAR and the rules by referees. This follows other controversial decisions, including Arsenal fans’ outrage over Declan Rice’s second yellow card for time-wasting, while Brighton’s Joao Pedro escaped punishment for a similar offense.

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Liverpool will aim to extend their winning streak to four games when they face Nottingham Forest after the international break.

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