A new update on Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal will spell even more misery for Jurgen Klopp’s men after it emerged that VAR technology provider Hawk-Eye failed to perform its duties.
A potential offside position occupied by Bukayo Saka in the build-up to Gabriel Martinelli’s first goal was overlooked, as the former was entirely out of range of the cameras used to determine an in-game infringement.
“VAR placed the kick spot on Ben White, who passed the pass to Saka, and then looked to use one of the other cameras, all time-synchronized, to apply the offside lines,” Dale Johnson wrote for ESPN.
“The technology provider Hawk-Eye has five cameras around the field that can be used to place the offside lines, but Saka was offside on all of them at the time White played the ball.
“From the tactical camera around the midline, which is not calibrated for offside, there is definitely an offside issue against Saka when running back, specifically if his back foot is ahead of the last defender, Trent Alexander. -Arnold.
“But as VAR could not apply the lines, Saka’s offside position cannot be determined, so VAR has to keep the decision on the field, which was onside.”
The Merseysiders were far from convincing throughout much of the proceedings, though it is rather unfortunate that one of the two dubious calls made during the matchup was highlighted.
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We can’t argue that a win was a deserved result for the FA Cup champions, although it seems more than unfair that a share of the loot was denied thanks to a technological glitch beyond our control.
Hopefully there will be no repeat of such circumstances for Manchester City’s visit to Anfield in less than a week, though it should set off alarm bells for Premier League fans.
Never mind the possibility that Liverpool may have dropped points as a result: Hawk-Eye and VAR will have invited even closer scrutiny of their handling of English top-flight games, and rightly so.
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