Liverpool and Tottenham delivered a contest that underlined why both sides have struggled in the Premier League this season. Many had tipped the hosts to secure a comfortable win at Anfield, but the match unfolded differently.
The Reds went ahead in the first half thanks to a free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, with Guglielmo Vicario arguably able to do better. However, Igor Tudor’s side fought back late on, as Richarlison grabbed an equaliser the visitors fully deserved for their performance.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes the game could have taken a very different turn. The ex-FIFA referee criticised both the on-field official and VAR for failing to punish what he viewed as a clear red-card incident.
Hackett pointed to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as the player who escaped punishment. In his view, the defender impeded Richarlison in the second half by placing a hand on his shoulder as the forward advanced toward goal.
Reflecting on the incident, Hackett recalled previously highlighting multiple unpunished offences involving Van Dijk, insisting this was another example. He argued that the contact warranted both a penalty and a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, questioning why VAR failed to intervene despite clear footage.
While acknowledging that referee Chris Kavanagh may not have had the best angle, Hackett maintained that VAR should have stepped in to correct the decision, describing it as an obvious holding offence that went unpunished.
Hackett has been critical of Van Dijk before, even detailing several incidents he felt should have led to disciplinary action, including off-the-ball clashes with Richarlison and Kai Havertz.
Despite this criticism, Van Dijk’s disciplinary record remains notable. Across 331 appearances for Liverpool, he has received only 27 yellow cards and been sent off twice in the Premier League — a record that, while impressive, Hackett believes has occasionally been aided by fortunate decisions.
