Another day, another VAR controversy. Saturday's early Premier League kick-off between Brighton and Liverpool, a game which saw the under-fire video assistant referee steal the show but for all the wrong reasons.
Despite their injury crisis, many favored the Reds to win. The Merseyside giants welcomed back Mohamed Salah to the lineup and had the in-form Diogo Jota in attack alongside Firmino and the Egyptian ace – Sadio Mane began the game on the bench.
Klopp's men struggled to create many goalscoring chances but took the lead nonetheless, with Jota continuing his fine form by breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute to hand the visitors a 1-0 lead. Things remained like this until stoppage and just as the defending champions appeared destined for all three points, VAR made a cameo than changed the result of the game.
The technology was called into play after the officials behind the monitors deemed Andy Robertson had committed a foul worthy of a penalty. After reviewing the incident, the referee decided to award the Seagulls an extra-time spot kick despite replays showing minimal contact by the fullback on Danny Welbeck as he attempted to clear the ball.
Gross stepped up for the home side and calmly converted the penalty – Maupay missed a first-half spot kick – making it 1-1 and earning Graham Potter's side a point. Klopp was left seething by the decision and even went as far as sarcastically applauding the officials – whether he will face repercussion for this will soon emerge. Many felt Liverpool were robbed by poor officiating, taking to social media to slam the referee for awarding a soft penalty. However, some argued against this notion, stating that it was a stonewall spot kick. Check out the best tweets below.
Is that a penalty? Is it the correct decision to be given against Robertson? pic.twitter.com/YIGr38KU7j
— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) November 28, 2020
Brighton 1-1 Liverpool FT:
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) November 28, 2020
20': Maupay misses a penalty
34': Salah goal ruled out by VAR
60': Diogo Jota scores
84': Mané goal ruled out by VAR
90+3': Groß scores a penalty after a VAR review
Wow. pic.twitter.com/HdN472ATV7
Danny Welbeck: "We got a soft penalty." #awlfc [bt]
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) November 28, 2020
If that was in real time no one would even think about that being a pen. VAR is making every situation a possible foul. If you have to look at it 3 times in slow motion, it's not a penalty.
— LiverpoolFF (@LiverpoolFF) November 28, 2020
I don't know to what extent 'clear & obvious' should come into it. It's either a penalty or not...
— Patrick Boyland (@Paddy_Boyland) November 28, 2020
More VAR controversy at the Amex Stadium @DionDublinsDube and @IzzyChr17 discuss the penalty incident.
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) November 28, 2020
What do you think... penalty or not a penalty?
Listen on @BBCSounds
: https://t.co/NI1sjtGRxI#bbcfootball #BHALIV pic.twitter.com/J5Re5UVRhb
FT: Brighton 1 #LFC 1: Liverpool denied victory by Gross' stoppage-time penalty on the south coast. More VAR controversy. Klopp fuming at the officials. Jota's 9th goal of the season had put the Reds on the brink of an ugly win. Maupay earlier missed a spot-kick for the hosts
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) November 28, 2020
Welbeck gets a slight touch, stays up for 3 seconds before he goes down. Basically if someone touches you inside the box you can just jump to ground and claim a penalty.
— LiverpoolFF (@LiverpoolFF) November 28, 2020
Is there even one time in the history of football where any referee gives that Brighton penalty in real time?
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) November 28, 2020
Nope. Not even once.
That shows the idiocy of VAR...and even Danny Wellbeck conceded that afterwards...#BHALIV #LIV
Stone wall penalty.
— Adam McKola (@AdamMcKola) November 28, 2020
Welbz, still dat guy.
Honestly what is the game coming to if defenders are no longer allowed to kick opposition players inside the penalty area and get away with it.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) November 28, 2020
Stonewall penalty. Every day.
— (@goonerStevie) November 28, 2020
In a VAR world you can't really make a good argument for why that isn't a penalty. It's just that it wouldn't be given even 5% of the time in a non-VAR world. It's not a wrong decision. It's just an example of how VAR football is completely different to the game we're used to.
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) November 28, 2020
- Jurgen Klopp walked towards the linesman to applaud him sarcastically. Let's see if the FA suspends him for that. pic.twitter.com/9Ccj2FUm5E
— (@TheEuropeanLad) November 28, 2020