Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Premier League this afternoon
Levi Colwill of Chelsea protests to Referee John Brooks after Liverpool are awarded a penalty kick which is later overturned following a VAR review during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024
John Brooks during Liverpool's clash against Chelsea(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The PGMOL have confirmed that John Brooks will replace Michael Salisbury as VAR for this afternoon’s game between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. The move comes after the PGMOL acknowledged an error was made by Salisbury on VAR during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham yesterday afternoon.
Josh King thought he had opened the scoring for the visitors at Stamford Bridge, calmly finishing off a stunning breakaway move inside the opening 22 minutes. However, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review.
Pedro Muniz was the player penalised, judged to have been reckless in his challenge on Trevoh Chalobah before the ball was worked to King, who finished into the corner with aplomb.
Explaining his decision, referee Rob Jones said: “After review, Fulham No.9 commits a careless challenge, stands on the foot of the Chelsea defender, therefore we disallow the goal and we restart with a Chelsea free kick. There would be no further action.”
However, according to multiple reports, the PGMOL have now acknowledged that VAR made a mistake in disallowing the goal, and the decision was not in line with the principle of 'referee's call' and the high bar for intervention, which should only be for clear and obvious errors.
It has also been claimed that PGMOL chief Howard Webb contacted Fulham yesterday.
The call left Marco Silva furious, with the Fulham boss saying post-match: “In the first half I saw my team playing outstanding football.
“Playing football – not trying to be fake, not parking the bus or something like that. All the decisions from the VAR and the referee made a massive impact on the game.
“To disallow a goal like that is unbelievable. Unbelievable. We have all the meetings with the people in charge; we try to see their direction. One of the main things was: ‘VAR is not here to referee the game.’ I would prefer to say nothing more as I will be punished.
“I want to be on the bench for the next game, I don’t want to pay fines. But it has been difficult with so many decisions against us at the start of the season.”