Fans question the purpose of VAR after Mane’s injury-time dive earns Liverpool three points against Leicester City

Leicester City gave Liverpool a tough match at Anfield but a dive from Sadio Mane from the faintest of touches from Marc Albrighton earned the Reds a penalty in stoppage time. James Milner scored from the penalty spot to extend Liverpool’s winning run to eight.

Liverpool had a few chances to take the lead in the first half but James Milner and Mo Salah blasted their shots off-target. Sadio Mane took two brilliant touches and smashed the ball past Kasper Schmeichel into the back of the net to give Liverpool a deserved lead right before half-time.

Leicester City started to throw more men forward in the second half making it an open contest with chances at both ends. Kasper Schmeichel made fine saves of Andy Roberson and Mo Salah to keep the score at 1-0.

Ayoze Perez’s introduction caused more trouble to the home side’s defence and the Spanish attacker released James Maddison for the equalizer. With games tied, the match went deep into extra time and Sadio Mane went to the ground from a negligible touch from Marc Albrighton.

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The referee pointed to the spot and VAR refused to overturn the decision. In all fairness, the contact was minimal and certainly not enough to send Mane to the ground. In this season, fans have witnessed stronger challenges on the likes of Harry Kane and David Silva have not been awarded by VAR. This was an eye-brow raising call from the referee and VAR given the precedence they have set this season.

Some fans expressed their surprise on twitter:

Lol, unbelievable dive. Well, I say unbelievable but it's very believable from Mané. They had VAR too. Everyone involved in this decision should be forced to retire from refereeing. pic.twitter.com/SS0lRZnlzv
— 7amkickoff (@7amkickoff) October 5, 2019

Quick reminder this wasn’t called a penalty but Mane’s dive was.

Decisions like these that manifest warranted distrust between fans and the sport’s governing body. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/I9XDFlBCjY
— Zach Ramsay (@zach_ramsay) October 5, 2019

Disgusting dive. Huge Mane fan, but this is a "clear and obvious" error from the official. It then goes to VAR but isn't overturned. Flawed system and I suspect there will be many changes to it next season. pic.twitter.com/8YYyZVTpYC
— KURTWEETY (@KurtLaduma) October 5, 2019

What's the point in VAR if they won't overturn a refs decision?

Blatent Mane dive, this is what VAR is there to catch
— Spurs fan (@SpursRC) October 5, 2019

You watch it back properly. The contact is on Mane left feet, but mane was act like his right leg is in pain lol. Doesn’t mean the contact is always a pen. That’s a very soft one. Not a pen. The way he fell like he dive tho
— Aman (@amanrhmn_) October 5, 2019

Just saw the dive by Mane to win the penalty and the game. What a disgrace of a player and shame on VAR and the referee for their decision.
— Avneet.Kalha (@AvneetKalha) October 5, 2019

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to avoid the attention on the dive by claiming it was a clear penalty and focusing on the challenge on Mohamed Salah from Hamza Choudhury, which was rightfully given a yellow card.

In a close season, VAR might decide the title race in one club’s favour and fans shouldn’t be blamed for wanting to see the new technology apply the same standard for all clubs.

Deepak Selvan

Deepak has been LosMejor’s Chief Football Writer since the 2018-19 Premier League season. He writes about the Premier League & Champions League on LosMejor.