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Liverpool's penalty call reversed in PSG defeat
Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed frustration after a 64th-minute penalty awarded to his side was overturned by VAR during their 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, a result that eliminated the Reds from the competition on a 4-0 aggregate.
The incident
Alexis Mac Allister was adjudged to have been fouled by PSG defender Willian Pacho inside the box, prompting referee Maurizio Mariani to initially point to the spot. However, VAR Marco di Bello quickly intervened, directing Mariani to review the decision at the pitchside monitor. After reconsideration, the penalty was rescinded.
The overturn hinged on minimal contact-Pacho's boot made contact with the back of Mac Allister's foot, raising questions about whether it warranted the initial call or its reversal.
Slot's reaction
"I'm not surprised. So many decisions have gone against us this season. If the referee doesn't give a penalty, VAR would have never overturned it. I've seen so many soft penalties given, but people say VAR can't interfere because there is contact. That is what we clearly see."
Arne Slot
Slot acknowledged his team's fortune in the first leg, where a PSG penalty was overturned and another potential VAR review did not materialize.
Pattern of controversy
Liverpool have been involved in multiple contentious VAR decisions this season. Alongside Brighton, they have conceded the most VAR-awarded penalties in the Premier League (three), including spot-kicks against Brentford and Leeds United. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was also penalized for fouling Manchester City's Jeremy Doku in November.
In contrast, Liverpool have been awarded only two penalties this season-both against Burnley and neither via VAR. Only Aston Villa and Tottenham have fared worse in this regard.
Statistical disadvantage
Liverpool have suffered six VAR interventions against them, the second-highest in the league after Fulham (nine). They also rank poorly in net VAR interventions (favorable minus unfavorable), with a -3 record, surpassed only by Everton (-4).
However, only one of these decisions has been officially classified as a VAR error: a missed red card for Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi in the season opener. Two other incidents-Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City and a red card for Brighton's Diego Gomez-were deemed on-field mistakes but not severe enough for VAR intervention.
Broader refereeing debates
Slot referenced additional controversial calls, including a penalty awarded to Brentford after a free-kick was upgraded to a spot-kick following a VAR review of a Van Dijk challenge. Another example was a penalty given to Leeds United after Ibrahima Konaté fouled Wilfried Gnonto, which Slot initially misremembered as an on-field decision.
Other borderline incidents, such as Florian Wirtz's penalty claim against Arsenal and a challenge by Nathan Collins on Cody Gakpo at Brentford, were not included in official VAR statistics but highlight the subjectivity of refereeing decisions.
Liverpool have also benefited from close calls, such as Konaté's challenge on Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, which did not result in a penalty despite a 3-2 panel vote in favor of no foul.
League-wide context
While Slot's frustrations are notable, other managers, including Pep Guardiola and Michael Carrick, have also criticized refereeing decisions this season. Statistically, only Chelsea have a more favorable VAR record than Manchester City and Manchester United.
