Liverpool’s Premier League games will continue to see the usage of VAR next season.
There had been danger that the technology could be scrapped ahead of the 2024/25 campaign after Wolves demanded a vote between the clubs.
But with Liverpool voting to keep VAR, Wolves were beaten in a 19 to one swing. Only the Molineux club chose to uphold their own motion.
This may lead to disappointed amongst the wider footballing world. Players themselves didn’t seem overly keen on VAR, with West Ham’s Michail Antonio slamming its usage this season.
And as the dust settles on the vote, presenter Richard Keys has pointed out something slightly ironic about the video technology and Anfield.
Richard Keys makes point about Anfield and VAR
Liverpool should have had more reason than most to get rid of VAR ahead of the new campaign.
Studies have shown that Liverpool were hit with four wrong calls from the video assistant during the course of Jurgen Klopp’s last season.
Furthermore, the Reds were on the wrong end of perhaps the most notorious VAR incident of all time, when Luis Diaz’s legitimate goal was not added to the score against Tottenham.
Despite that, Liverpool were always said to be erring on the side of keeping the technology in light of Wolves’ motion. And that’s exactly what they did.
READ MORE: The eight worst VAR calls against Liverpool in the Premier League
Instead, it seems that the best course of action is to improve the standard of those using the systems, rather than scrap it all together.
However, former Sky Sports presenter Keys has laughed off the suggestion that this could happen. Taking to X, Keys made a point about Anfield and VAR.
“Suits making decisions about what’s best for football fans without any consultation,” bemoans the pundit. “‘Maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention’.
“They never stop trying to find ways to disallow goals. ‘Enhanced big screen replays’. There aren’t any screens at Anfield or OT.”
Were Liverpool right to keep VAR?
Some will be desperately disappointed to see VAR renewed in the Premier League for next season.
To many, it has become the scourge of the game – a symbol of how far away football has gone from its true meaning.
But in our opinion, the technology is still extremely useful. If the officials operating the systems were halfway competent, things would be fine.
On paper, there’s no problem at all in having a helping hand on the way to making big decisions. The issue is that at the moment, it isn’t being used correctly.
There’s no way that VAR should be as prevalent as it is. The rules should be cleared up on when it is needed and to what extent.
As for the match going fans, that is where things need to be really improved. Keys is right to point out how the absence of screens at Anfield do not help in these situations. If it’s all to work probably, maybe that’s something that needs to be addressed.