Chelsea followers had been left fuming at one other Video Assistant Referee (VAR) “nightmare” after being denied a “clear” penalty in opposition to Liverpool.
The Blues travelled to Anfield on Wednesday evening with an enormous activity on their fingers in going through the Premier League leaders. But that they had a golden alternative to take the lead at 0-0, with Conor Gallagher bursting into the field within the opening minutes.
Yet as Gallagher tried to create space to get a shot away, the England midfielder gave the impression to be blocked by Virgil van Dijk. Replays confirmed the Reds defender’s leg seemingly making contact with Gallagher’s knee.
READ MORE: Dr Eva Carneiro now – what Chelsea physician is doing 9 years on from Jose Mourinho row
BUY HERE: Premier League Darts preview – on sale now forward of Luke Littler’s debut
But VAR didn’t deem the contact to be worthy of a penalty and didn’t ask referee Paul Tierney to try the incident once more on the pitch-side monitor. That left the Chelsea devoted furious as they took to social media to voice their outrage.
One Chelsea fan raged on X: “Pull on the shirt/holding, VVD’s knee comes across Gallagher and clearly makes contact and trips him, VAR has had a nightmare here!” whereas one other tweeted: “liVARpool at it again.”
A 3rd wrote: “How is this not a penalty on Gallagher???” whereas a fourth added: “STONEWALL penalty!”
Others chimed in by tweeting: “Officiating is sinking to new lows,” and: “The more they keep showing the Gallagher foul the more I’m swearing.”
And different Blues supporters raged: “I don’t know how this is not a pen,” and: “The standards of the officiating are trash.”
Premier League Darts Preview 2024
Kebab-loving Luke Littler took the World Championships by storm. Now the teenager sensation is taking his skills across the UK and Europe as he faces the massive boys within the Premier League.
Venues shall be packed out to see the brand new darting icon tackle the largest names within the sport – Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwin, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall over the following few months.
Our particular Premier League preview charts Littler’s astronomic rise, turns the highlight on his rivals for the coveted title, consists of an unique column from James Wade, interviews with legends of the sport, present Premier League gamers and PDC chairman Eddie Hearn – and it tells you all the things you should know concerning the event.
Chelsea’s woes had been exacerbated as Liverpool went on to take the lead within the twenty third minute courtesy of in-form ahead Diogo Jota. Conor Bradley doubled the Reds’ lead six minutes earlier than half-time, netting his first aim for the membership with a wonderful end from a good angle.
The away aspect wished one other penalty minutes earlier than Liverpool’s second after Ben Chilwell threw himself to the ground contained in the field. But the referee appropriately dished out a yellow card to the left-back for simulation.