Klopp rues VAR failure
Jurgen Klopp admitted he was frustrated by VAR’s failure to rule out Marcus Rashford’s goal as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday, denying them a record-equalling 18th straight Premier League win.
Klopp felt United defender Victor Lindelof was guilty of a foul on Liverpool striker Divock Origi in the build-up to Rashford’s 36th minute opener.
Rashford eventually scored with a close-range finish and the goal stood despite a VAR check that appeared to show Lindelof catching Origi and making no contact with the ball, a decision that enraged Klopp.
“They scored a goal which shows all the problems with VAR. Mr Atkinson let the game run I’m sure because there is VAR. For me it was a clear foul,” Klopp said.
“It’s a general problem. VAR looks and says ‘you decided like this’. But it was a foul. There was clear contact and Divock Origi goes down. They carried on and counter-attacked. I’m sure they (United) said it is not a ‘clear foul?’ That doesn’t work. That’s just not how it should be.”
Adding to Klopp’s VAR woes, Liverpool winger Sadio Mane had an equaliser disallowed by VAR moments later after he handled before scoring. That looked like the correct decision and Klopp said “it was probably handball”.
Liverpool improved after the interval and the league leaders, now six clear of Manchester City, equalised with five minutes left when Adam Lallana tapped in but United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted his side deserved all three points.
“The players are disappointed in the dressing room which is a good sign. They’re not excited at a point against Liverpool. It should have been three” he told BBC.
Solskjaer was also asked about Rashford’s goal and replied: “It’s never a foul. I don’t think Keano [Roy Keane] would say that’s a foul.” Solskjaer added.
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