Liverpool vs. Tottenham: Match in Review
We should probably discuss VAR.
I’m honestly not quite sure what I’ve just seen. Liverpool vs. Tottenham was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions which saw two of the goals of the season scored just eleven minutes from each other. Despite these absolute wondergoals, refereeing decisions marred what was, quite honestly, the best match of the season.
The first half started just about as well as it could have for Liverpool, with Dier’s awful backpass playing in Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s first of the night and his 20th of the campaign. Despite dominating possession, Tottenham looked nervy and shaken after conceding very early on, similar to how United felt after Spurs scored after just 11 seconds Wednesday. Spurs were mainly lacklustre, but on 34 minutes Son was called (wrongfully) offside after playing in Christian Eriksen. (more on refereeing later). Chances were few and far between and the half ended with Liverpool very much on the front foot.
The second half was very different. Pochettino clearly ripped into his team for what was, frankly, a load of nonsense in the first half and his men looked raring to go. In the 58th minute Heung Min-Son had the best opportunity of the game up until that point, only to shoot the ball directly at Karius who saved Liverpool’s blushes. On 71 minutes the error prone Davinson Sanchez was subbed of for Erik Lamela and just three minutes later subbing on Victor Wanyama for Mousa Dembele.
Then pandemonium ensued.
In the 81st minute Eriksen’s fierce cross-shot was tipped away by Karius, only for Wanyama to rip the net open with one of the goals of the season from 25 yards out:
Then, three minutes later Tottenham were awarded a penalty after a clearly offside Kane picked up the ball and was brought down by Karius. Or was he? Replays showed that, though Karius did (slightly) catch Kane, he did so while getting the ball. Referee Jon Moss had a very long conversation with his assistant on the validity of the pen. It was given, Kane stepped up and missed. Still 1–1.
Just as it looked like this match was headed to a 1–1 draw Mohamed Salah did this:
While channeling his inner Argentinian, the Egyptian weaved past an Englishman, a Welshman and a Belgian before slotting it home past a Frenchman. Inclusive, and simply brilliant. His (German) manager sprinted across the touchline to celebrate while Spurs were left aghast. Such a brilliant second half undone by one moment of derpiness in the 4th minute and one moment of magic in the 91st.
But wait, there’s more.
Spurs snuck Fernando Llorente on amidst the pandemonium from the Liverpool support. Spurs lofted the ball up and Virgil van Dijk caught Erik Lamela with a trailing knee and Spurs were awarded a penalty… over 40 seconds after the “foul” had occurred. Kane bravely picked up the ball to take his second pen of the night, which he buried in Harry Kane fashion for Spurs’ second and his 22nd of the season. The match ended in a chorus of boos from the home support as they felt that their team had been seriously shortchanged by the referees.
This match, however entertaining, was a testament to VAR in the modern game. Much has been talked about VAR since the DFL announced last year that it would be in use for the 2017/18 Bundesliga season. VAR, or Virtual Assistant Referee, modernizes the game and allows the match referee to review penalty decisions, fouls and goals and to award/revoke decisions made through video review.
Had VAR been in use Spurs might not have been given either penalty and Liverpool would have (undeservedly) run home 2–1 winners and sitting pretty in third. However, decisions were made against them and it ended, 2–2.
However, I am torn on the subject of VAR. I think poor refereeing decisions are part of the game and add to the intensity of a football match. When done right, VAR can be brilliant, disallowing goals that should have never counted and completely taking human error out of the game. However, no level of impartiality exists to give one man the power to overrule every decision made in a match. In November, the Bundesliga sacked their VAR chief over allegations of matchfixing. The evidence showed otherwise, there was no match fixing, just bigger teams have more of an influence on a referee. If Jerome Boateng signals to the referee for review that carries more weight than Robin Knoche or David Abraham signaling to the referee. In the end, what German football fans have seen, is that more calls go to bigger teams with VAR. Just take Köln vs Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park for example:
Referee Patrick Ittrich ruled it no goal because he had whistled the play dead before the ball crossed the line. The VAR overruled him and the goal stood. Cologne were left wondering how a goal could be given after the whistle had been blown. Dortmund went on to win 5–0. (Penfold, DW).
The English football system is too top heavy right now. Smaller teams such as Crystal Palace and Huddersfield playing away in large stadiums like Wembley or Old Trafford might not have a shout (literally) trying to persuade the ref into giving a something a second look. Their shouts will be waved away by taunts from the overwhelming home croud and the noise disparity could play a factor in whether a VAR review is given.
However, if done properly, VAR will give these clubs a level playing field. We might see fewer calls given in favor of Manchester United and more in favor of Newcastle United.
We must give VAR a try. It is not perfect, yet nothing truly is perfect. Implementing a limit on VAR challenges could be a start, but we mustn’t run away from the fact that VAR modernizes the game and, when done right, could bring an equal playing field to football in the same way virtual review has done to the NFL and the ATP/WTA.
