Liverpool fans tonight will likely agree that Andreas Pereira was fortunate to remain on the pitch when he scored for Fulham in their 2-2 draw at Anfield. The midfielder was booked early on for a dangerous challenge on Ryan Gravenberch, striking the back of the Reds’ player’s Achilles. Replays suggested that a red card would have been justified.
To make matters worse, the former Manchester United player scored just two minutes later, capitalizing on weak defending from Liverpool. The Premier League Match Centre on X clarified why Issa Diop avoided a red card for his early tackle on Andy Robertson and why Robertson was sent off for a last-man foul in the 17th minute, despite a lengthy offside review that upheld the on-field decision.
While the Premier League did not comment on the Pereira/Gravenberch incident, the Liverpool Echo reached out to the league for clarification. They reported that the VAR supported the referee’s original decision to give Pereira only a yellow card, allowing him to stay on the field and score at Anfield.
How on earth did Pereira get away with that? If Stuart Attwell, on VAR, reviewed the incident and didn’t think it was worthy of a red card, we have to question what was going through his mind. The fact that former top-flight referee Mike Dean believed it was “100%” a red card speaks volumes.
Pereira’s challenge was reckless and could have caused a serious injury to Gravenberch, who, fortunately, managed to play through the rest of the match. The weak explanation from the Premier League is sure to frustrate Liverpool fans.
Once again, the quality of officiating in the Premier League will be scrutinized after this baffling failure by those at Stockley Park. To make matters worse, the Fulham midfielder scored almost immediately afterward.
This situation raises the ongoing issue of why VAR discussions aren’t broadcast live. Instead, fans only get a polished explanation from Howard Webb after the fact, when it’s too late to make any changes. Football fans deserve a full and immediate explanation, particularly when decisions like this one seem so hard to understand.
