The game between Liverpool and Manchester City has sparked controversy from various angles and differing viewpoints since it took place last weekend. On the Manchester City side, the fans see it as a good step in the direction for the team to push for the title race this season, which is a good thing as Manchester City has always been a title contender in every season. Liverpool has had their fair share of power struggles in the title race with Pep Guardiola's side for the past eight years now, if I am correct.
On the other hand, the match was taken as another heavy loss on Arne Slot's side as the Reds' horrible run continues, and also the talks of the refereeing decisions have sparked more in the last few days. Virgil Van Dijk scored a header, which was disallowed by the referee, and sparked reactions on the inconsistency with the refereeing body in the Premier League. The decision to disallow the goal was made by the VAR, as, according to video reports that I have watched, the goal was disallowed because they felt Andy Robertson was in the line of sight of Donnarumma.
That goal, if it stood, would have been the leveller in the first half of that match and could have changed the game for the remaining minutes to be played, and that is a known fact. The refereeing decision and VAR changed the course of the game because I don't understand how Andy Robertson was in the sight of Donnarumma when that ball was headed into the goalpost. The VAR didn't even do better, and I can see why Pep Guardiola has been complaining about the technology since it was introduced into the Premier League.
The VAR has been questioned by many football experts and managers on how the technology is running the game, and now I understand why it took some time before La Liga started to use this technology in their league. There have been so many controversies in so many countries about VAR in the Spanish league, and even the ones that I have seen online have made me question the technology's capability. The loss against Manchester City is painful, but the painful part is knowing the game would have taken a new turn if that goal had been given to Liverpool.
The referee Chris Kavanagh has been at the centre of three controversial VAR decisions, which have prompted concerns about whether the referee should be given important matches like this to officiate in the long run. Chris Kavanagh has already come out to say the goal should have been given as there was a mistake in the decision of all the referees involved. It is quite sad to see this happen to Liverpool, but what else can the team do but move on and come back stronger after the International break? In the future, I hope the referees learn from this and do better in officiating matches in order for this kind of situation not to happen often in the future.