Virgil van Dijk foul on David de Gea: VAR saves Manchester United... but should Liverpool's goal have stood?

Action Images via Reuters
Tom Doyle19 January 2020

VAR was once again at the forefront of a Premier League game as Liverpool and Manchester United faced off in Sunday's north-west derby at Anfield.

Despite a promising start from United, the League leaders Liverpool took the lead as Virgil van Dijk rose unmarked to power a header high into the net 14 minutes into the contest.

Liverpool thought they had doubled their lead through Roberto Firmino 11 minutes later as the Brazilian whipped a fine effort around David de Gea, though United were furious at what they felt to be a foul by Van Dijk on the goalkeeper in the build-up.

De Gea was booked by referee Craig Pawson for his protests, but following a VAR check on the challenge, the official awarded United a foul - and the score reverted to 1-0.

Before the VAR review, Gary Neville said: "I don't think that's a foul. I think he just dropped it. It's soft."

Standard Sport's Liverpool correspondent, David Lynch, was in attendance at Anfield and said of the decision: You have to say that's a decent intervention from VAR.

"The referee is right to let it run - it's not the most obvious of fouls from Van Dijk - but there's definitely enough contact to stop De Gea claiming the ball."

But what do you think - should the goal have stood, or was the correct decision made? Have your say in our poll below.

Additional reporting by PA.

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