Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has argued that two of Liverpool's goals against Crystal Palace on Sunday should not have stood.
The Eagles were beaten 3-1 at Selhurst Park by Jurgen Klopp's side but felt hard done by at the full-time whistle due to a contentious penalty decision in the dying moments.
Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had put the visitors 2-0 up in the first half only for Odsonne Edouard to halve the deficit for Palace midway through the second period.
Michael Olise then almost squared the game with a clever lob scrambled away by Alisson at the vital moment before, at the other end, Kevin Friend was asked to consult VAR after a seemingly innocuous collision between Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was flagged up.
Friend's initial reaction had been to give a goal-kick, but despite the replays showing Jota forcing himself into Guaita to engineer contact, he reversed his decision after using the pitchside monitor and pointed to the spot.
The decision was immediately criticised by Palace manager Patrick Vieira after the game and by several pundits, with former top-flight referee Clattenburg also left confused by the situation.
"Kevin Friend should have stood by his decision of ‘no penalty'," he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
"Once Diogo Jota had pushed the ball past Vicente Guaita, he moved towards the keeper and caused a collision.
"I do not understand why VAR Craig Pawson got involved. There was no clear and obvious error from Friend. The referee saw the incident and did not blow for a foul.
"After being sent to his pitch-side monitor, it was a shame Friend did not back himself and decide his original call was correct."
Clattenburg went on to suggest that Palace should also be upset with the decision for Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal to stand in the 32nd minute.
The Englishman was free to smash home from Andy Robertson's cross, but only because Eagles full-back Tyrick Mitchell was occupied by Roberto Firmino, who challenged for the ball in the air despite being in an offside position.
VAR did not intervene in the matter, which Vieira also said was a mistake that had cost his side in the game.
“When Andy Robertson played the ball into the box, Roberto Firmino was clearly in an offside position," Clattenburg added.
"Firmino jumped and made a clear attempt to meet the cross. If he hadn’t been there, Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell would have headed clear, so the Liverpool striker was interfering with play.
“Consequently the ball reached Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored. VAR should have intervened.”
