Liverpool have been without defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk since October and will likely be without the Dutchman for the remainder of the season – after sustaining an ACL injury due to Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s horror challenge.
One of the main takeaways from the game was the fact that Pickford remained on the pitch after his challenge despite it easily being a red card offence – something that VAR referee on the day Michael Oliver has recently admitted to getting wrong, stating that he should have sent Pickford off and that ‘he did not think enough’ about the challenge.
I’m sure myself and most Liverpool fans were adamant that the Toffees goalkeeper should have seen Red for the challenge that has left van Dijk requiring surgery and almost 8 months worth of rehabilitation to get back to match fitness but VAR’s failure to do so had no doubt added to the frustration of the technology.
Are you a fan of VAR?
Yes
No
Strangely enough, I feel that VAR isn’t actually the problem – the technology can be really useful when used properly, with the current issue with it being the people behind using it, the referees themselves.
As Oliver states, when he was in the room with the other officials when reviewing the challenge during the Merseyside derby, they were sucked into the idea of looking over every process and aspect of the situation, forgetting about the main issue of the whistle being blown and that was the challenge on van Dijk…
“We got sucked too much into going step by step as opposed to thinking of the bigger process, which was considering the challenge as well and not just the fact it can’t be a penalty.” – Michael Oliver
It is frustrating, to say the least, that Oliver has now come out and admitted the mistake given that nothing can be done now and that even if Pickford was sent off, we would still be without van Dijk and be in the same position as we currently are.
What do you think Liverpool fans, are you frustrated with the recent revelations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below…