Every week in the Premier League we seem to have some sort of VAR controversy. It is all getting pretty tiring, but it will continue to be a topic of discussion until all of the kinks are worked out.
Contentious penalty decisions have been the main focus over the opening weeks of the campaign, but offsides have had their share of the limelight as well. There have been a few occasions where players have been deemed offside by a matter of millimetres, but this one at Villa Park may have been the closest of the lot.
Roberto Firmino thought he had equalised for Liverpool in their game against Aston Villa, but the linesman flagged him for offside. Upon viewing the replay it appeared that he may have actually been onside.
After a long pause for VAR, the goal would be ruled out for offside, by the smallest of margins. Even with the Premier League tweeting an explanation, it still wasn't clear that he was offside.
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino was flagged offside before putting the ball in the net against Aston Villa and the decision was confirmed by VAR
The red line signifies Firmino and was aligned to his armpit, which was marginally ahead of the last Villa defender#AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/a2OnNWnz2E— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2019
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino was flagged offside before putting the ball in the net against Aston Villa and the decision was confirmed by VAR
The red line signifies Firmino and was aligned to his armpit, which was marginally ahead of the last Villa defender.
Looking at the red line that signifies the position of the attacker, some believe even that didn't show he was offside.
The line VAR uses isn't even perpendicular! I cut it to a perfect 90º angle, and look - it's angled inwards! pic.twitter.com/Y0Dv5Tqfiz
— Paul Tomkins (@paul_tomkins) November 2, 2019
Football fans of all creeds were thoroughly unconvinced by the call.
Firmino has had a goal disallowed for offside. He wasn’t offside but VAR decided he was offside. When it comes to VAR I’m now offside.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) November 2, 2019
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/GEXWUsdIKL
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) November 2, 2019
VAR just ruled this Liverpool goal offside. Further proof that VAR is the worst innovation in world football history. Scrap it. 😡😡 pic.twitter.com/bH3RHHOkcv
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 2, 2019
‘Aligned to his armpit’
- is this a joke? https://t.co/eQBhsYdmJk— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 2, 2019
This is my first and last VAR tweet of the season.
Firmino is not offside and the game is more flawed now than it was before. pic.twitter.com/C9udmogvM8— Josh Williams (@DistanceCovered) November 2, 2019
Me when I see the VAR decision that Firmino's armpit was blamed for the offside that didn't even look like it was offside.pic.twitter.com/NCvvG3S2xC
— Tom Munns (@TomMunns1) November 2, 2019
I 100% guarantee you if the linesman didn't put up his flag then Firmino's goal would have been given. VAR literally looking for an excuse to give the offside.
— Green Scouser (@Green_Scouser) November 2, 2019
Firmino’s nasal hair was offside there. A clear advantage for Liverpool.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) November 2, 2019
Firmino's nipple, or something, deemed offside by an inconclusive VAR graphic. VAR will surely improve but at the moment it seems so pedantic and imperfect.
— Jonathan Northcroft (@JNorthcroft) November 2, 2019
Luckily for Liverpool, it wouldn't matter in the end. Two late goals from Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane rescued a dramatic 2-1 for Jurgen Klopp's side, much to the delight of their supporters.
Not even Firmino's "offside" armpit could stop us from winning. VAR must be fuming. #AVLLIV
— Ribeka Seyoum (@sey_ribeka) November 2, 2019
