By Daily Sports on January 28, 2018
Jay Rodriguez scored twice as West Brom pulled off a thrilling 3-2 victory at Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday in a game that will be remembered for the use of the video assistant referee.
The VAR, being trialled in English cup competitions this season, was called upon three times by match referee Craig Pawson in the opening half.
Although all three decisions looked ultimately to be correct, the incidents will do little for those opposed to the system, amid claims it disrupts the normal flow of the game.
Leading 2-1 after 19 minutes, Albion believed they had scored a third goal after Craig Dawson headed in from a corner, although it quickly became evident that Pawson was uncertain.
After at least two minutes, and consultation with VAR official Andre Marriner in a studio in London, Pawson disallowed the goal for an offside decision against Gareth Barry, who had been standing in front of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
If Albion were unhappy with that decision, they were furious just four minutes later when Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah went down heavily in the penalty area after what appeared to be a tug on the arm by Jake Livermore.
Once more the VAR was summoned before Pawson, moving to look at a touchline screen, became the first English referee to directly consult a replay.
The delays -- totalling more than seven minutes in total -- detracted from an absorbing half of football and three goals inside the opening 11 minutes.
Finally by the 73rd minute, Liverpool had raised their game with Foster making superb saves in quick succession from Milner and Ings and, in the 78th minute, Liverpool were within a goal of an unlikely draw when Trent Alexander-Arnold's driven cross was mis-controlled by Firmino and Salah pounced on the ricochet, driving the ball home from 12 yards. © AFP
•Photo shows Salah.
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 28, 2018
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