Liverpool return to Premier League action this weekend with a crunch game against Leicester City on Sunday – an important matchup given the Reds’ current injury situation.
It was announced yesterday, however, that David Coote would be the VAR official for the clash with the Foxes, something that has left me rather aggravated.
The official was in charge of VAR during the Red’s controversial 2-2 draw with Everton which saw Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford escape a red card for his season-ending challenge on Virgil van Dijk, which has left the Dutchman sidelined until at least mid-April with a ruptured cruciate ligament.
The news of his appointment has left me feeling frustrated personally, with his actions and decisions during the aforementioned clash with Everton unjustifiable.
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According to Coote after the game – he didn’t know he was allowed to send off Pickford because of van Dijk being in an offside position, yet during the game, it was said by Dermot Gallagher that Coote didn’t see Pickford’s challenge as serious foul play…
Pickford escaped a blatant red card due to the fact the officials were only checking to see if van Dijk was offside – ignoring the challenge all together despite the clear recklessness and danger it posed on the Dutch defender with him now out for the majority of the season.
I’m not looking forward to the thought of David Coote being behind VAR for us on Sunday but there isn’t much that can be done to change it – so Reds fans such as myself will just have to accept it and hope that his decisions this time round are fair and concise and that hopefully, Jurgen Klopp’s side will come out of the game with another three points.
What do you think Liverpool fans, does David Coote in charge of VAR worry you? Let us know in the comments section down below…