Twitter Enters Meltdown Mode as, You Guessed it, VAR Steals the Man Utd-Liverpool Limelight
That was a bit breathless, wasn't it?
In case you haven't been paying attention, one of the biggest derbies in world football was played out at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Manchester United hosting Liverpool. And it wasn't without incident.
So what happened?
Well, we got our first bit of major drama around the 36th minute, when United took the lead through Marcus Rashford.
The Red Devils turned over possession with what looked like a foul from Victor Lindelof on Divock Origi, only for referee Martin Atkinson to allow play to continue, United moving the ball quickly before Daniel James crossed brilliantly for Rashford to tap in for the game's opener.
Foul? No foul? Was it a clear and obvious error?
Well, there are a few opinions floating around in the Twitterverse...
GOOOOAAAALLLLLLLL!@MarcusRashford #MUFC #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/viFawFJCov
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 20, 2019
A brilliant finish, too, from Rashford. Did look like a foul in the build-up from Lindelof but United were due a decision from Martin Atkinson. But VAR...
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) October 20, 2019
I thought it was a foul watching live. But it was a tad soft, and given ‘the high bar’ it’s a goal IMO.
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) October 20, 2019
Am I the only one thinking that it was not a foul on Origi and it should have been a goal for Rashford?
— Kyle Dixon (@KyleDixon95) October 20, 2019
Feel like VAR has actually got both decisions correct. #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/xSud6fRjIV
Mané's goal was handball, we are not arguing abt that ... But, Rashford's goal should not have stood, Origi was clearly fouled😡 VAR officials should rectify the errors made by referees. Instead, they are mostly going by the decision which referees are taking on field🤦♂
— Aritravo🔴 (@FF_EyeTest) October 20, 2019
Yet another example of VAR not working as it should. Blatant foul. If he looks at the monitor he overturns his decision. Mane goal correctly disallowed though.
— unbrencedented times (@brendanarthur_h) October 20, 2019
VAR is useless, episode 307. Magnificent from Rashford, however. Turned Matip inside out.
— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) October 20, 2019
Well, if those in the control room were feeling somewhat generous in giving that goal, they didn't show that beneficence when Liverpool stuck the ball in United's net.
Sadio Mane was played in, but was adjudged to have controlled the ball with his hand before striking past David de Gea.
Queue some outrage online, although most agreed the right decision was made.
The goal has been ruled out by VAR, after a handball by Mane. It remains 1-0 to the hosts.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 20, 2019
[1-0]#MUNLIV https://t.co/nv36tUy6bp
Delle Ali *controlled the ball* with his arm, goal stands. Touches Mané's hand accidentally after deflecting off his hand and VAR disallows it. The system is a waste of time in current form.
— And Could He Play (@andcouldheplay7) October 20, 2019
Watched it a few times and I think Origi throwing himself to the floor makes it look like it’s just a dive, there was a bit of contact but no foul for me, no where near enough contact. On the other hand, clear handball from mane. Both decisions correct, VAR doing its job 👍
— Prende (@prende88) October 20, 2019
Dele Alli hand ball goal given for Tottenham yesterday.
— ✨👑 DaddyMO👑✨🏁 (@therealdaddymo1) October 20, 2019
Sadio Mane ball to hand goal not given against Manchester United.
VAR is rubbish.
Fraud!!!!!!!!!
In the end, United couldn't quite hold on for what would have been a morale boosting win, even though the performance has undoubtedly raised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's spirits after a wretched few months.
Liverpool's equaliser came from an unlikely source, as substitute Adam Lallana popped up unmarked at the back stick to tap in Andy Robertson's cross. The winning streak may have stopped at 17 consecutive Premier League victories, but the unbeaten run lives on.
Their lead at the top of the table has been cut to six, thanks to Manchester City's victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday. The better news is that they play Tottenham in their next domestic game. That one's got 6-0 written all over it, and not in Spurs' favour.
As for United, who knows what they're capable of now. They've drawn with the Premier League's best team so far this season, so at the bare minimum should be looking to challenge for the title, even if they are 15 points off the summit. Right? Right.