Liverpool screwed by Premier League VAR errors more than any other team

Liverpool suffered MORE than any other Premier League team at the hands of VAR errors last season, it has been confirmed by new analysis. 

The Reds were on the receiving end of the most egregious VAR cock-up of the season against Tottenham in September when Luis Diaz had a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out for offside. 

But there were even more incidents than that. 

Two years ago the Premier League set up its Key Match Incidents Panel to review major decisions. Its analysis and expertise is used to inform PGMOL on what former players and coaches think of its officiating. 

The KMI Panel is designed to provide transparency and independence in reviewing decisions and assessing accuracy. 

Earlier this month it was revealed that scrapping VAR would be brought to a vote at the Premier League’s Annual General Meeting on June 6, after a proposal from Wolves. 

Research from ESPN has now confirmed that there is an official log of all VAR mistakes kept by the KMI Panel - the only official list of its kind. 

For the 2023-24 season there are 31 such errors. 

And to the surprise of nobody, Liverpool are the team who should have the most grievance, having suffered FOUR VAR errors, more than anyone else in the league. Furthermore the Merseysiders had NOT ONE error go in their favour.

Liverpool suffer at the hands of VAR

The first time Liverpool appear on the list is August 19, when Alexis Mac Allister was sent off for a foul on Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie.

The sending-off was later rescinded on appeal but the KMI Panel admits it should have been overturned on field. Luckily, the Reds were 2-1 up at the time of the dismissal and went on to win 3-1 at Anfield. 

On September 30, matchday official Simon Hooper and VAR Darren England contrived to wrongly disallow Diaz’s goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It should have counted and, with the game still locked at 0-0, it would have made a huge difference to the outcome of the game had it.

As it transpired, Liverpool lost, damaging badly their Premier League title hopes. 

Just a couple of days before Christmas came the third example of Liverpool being SCREWED OVER by the VAR system. After 19 minutes of Arsenal’s visit to Anfield, Martin Odegaard’s hand made contact with the ball inside the area and - the KMI Panel admits - a penalty should have been given. The Reds were 1-0 down at the time. 

The fourth example came just three days later on Boxing Day, with Liverpool leading 1-0 against Burnley. Darwin Nunez was ruled to have fouled Charlie Taylor before Cody Gakpo scored but again, that decision proved to be wrong in subsequent analysis. 

Liverpool bottom of the VAR error table

There are countless more examples of Liverpool having a case against VAR but only 31 incidents appear on the list in total. 

Brighton and Nottingham Forest were also deemed to have had four VAR errors go against them but they, unlike Liverpool, also had mistakes go in their favour. 

Brighton had one error go their way and Forest two. 

That means Liverpool finished the season on a net score of -4, Brighton -3 (alongside Wolves, who suffered three errors and had none in their favour) and Forest -2.

It’s “clear and obvious” that Liverpool have been shafted.