It has been explained why Chelsea were not awarded a penalty during the first half of their clash against Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold brought down Jadon Sancho inside the Reds’ box, stamping on the Blues winger’s foot as he pivoted to keep the ball in play.
However, despite bundling Sancho to the floor, the Liverpool defender was adjudged to have not fouled the Blues winger by the on-field referee, John Brooks. While not much was made of the incident on Sky Sports, the Video Assistant Referee conducted a review.
Michael Oliver, the lead VAR, and his assistant, Nicholas Hopton, checked the challenge, but they confirmed that Brooks’ initial decision should stand after watching replays. The on-field referee awarded Liverpool two penalties in the first half – the second of which was overturned.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, the Reds were given a spot-kick after Levi Colwill was adjudged to have fouled Curtis Jones inside the Chelsea area. The VAR team checked and confirmed Brooks’ call, deeming that the Blues defender’s contact was sufficient for a penalty.
Then, just moments before the break, the on-field referee awarded the Reds another penalty after a collision between Robert Sanchez and Curtis Jones. The Chelsea goalkeeper collided with the Liverpool midfielder, but the former was adjudged to have played the ball.
An official statement from the Premier League Match Centre, which explains decisions in real time on social media, reads: “The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool for a foul by Sanchez on Jones.
“The VAR deemed that Sanchez won the ball and no foul was committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.”
There was more VAR controversy at the start of the second half when Chelsea had an equaliser wrongly disallowed. Nicolas Jackson beat the Liverpool high line before beating Caoimhin Kelleher at his near post.
Following a review by Oliver and Hopton at Stockley Park, the Blues striker was found to be onside and the goal was given. An official statement from the Premier League Match Centre read: “Jackson’s goal was disallowed for offside on-field. The VAR checked and confirmed that Jackson was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded.”
