Rio Ferdinand argues that VAR made incorrect decisions in refusing Chelsea two penalties in their 4-1 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday, suggesting these calls had the potential to alter the game’s dynamics.
Jurgen Klopp’s team disassembled Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday night, and Mauricio Pochettino conceded that the Blues were evidently superior on that occasion.
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Yet, Chelsea faced refusals for two penalties in the Premier League clash, with Ferdinand suggesting these instances might have altered the game’s dynamics.
Virgil van Dijk leaned into Conor Gallagher, causing the Chelsea player to fall inside the box early on. Referee Paul Tierney signaled to play on, and VAR dismissed the penalty claims.
Van Dijk was involved in the second incident as well, clipping Christopher Nkunku in the penalty area. Although reviewed by John Brooks, he opted not to award Chelsea a penalty.
Speaking about the second penalty incident on the commentary, Ally McCoist was heard saying: ‘Has van Dijk kicked through him? Oh he does you know!
‘I’ll tell you right now he does, that’s a penalty. I think that is a penalty – he catches him with his right leg. You see the contact from Van Dijk there, oh it’s a penalty all day. He catches his right leg, no doubt about it.’
While after the match, Ferdinand said: ‘I can’t believe VAR hasn’t seen that and not give the penalties. VAR is meant to help in these situations.
‘How they have looked at the those two incidents and not thought they were penalties [for Chelsea].
‘I still think Chelsea were well off it today but those penalties could have changed the nature of the game.’
When asked for his opinion on the situation after the match, Pochettino said: ‘Of course we were seeing it on the iPad and we were thinking it could be a penalty. It was bad luck for us but that does not change the feeling that Liverpool were better than us.’
