Liverpool draw level at top, beaten Forest fume at VAR

[Pelican Press 0]

Liverpool draw level at top, beaten Forest fume at VAR

On a good day for the Merseyside clubs Liverpool have gone level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal while Everton won the “deduction derby” against Nottingham Forest.

Forest, who felt a series of decisions went against them, subsequently suggested the Video Assistant referee (VAR) was biased as he supported a third club in the relegation battle, Luton Town.

There also wins for fourth-placed Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, who hit five against West Ham.

Three days after bowing out of the Europa League and one week after a damaging home league defeat by Palace, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool got back on track.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s opener was cancelled out by Timothy Castagne before Ryan Gravenberch’s first league goal for the Reds and Diogo Jota’s effort lifted them one point above Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Everton took a huge step towards Premier League safety as long-range efforts from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil in either half secured a 2-0 home win against Forest.

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The Toffees climbed five points clear of the bottom three and have a game in hand on most strugglers, while Forest stay one point above the drop zone.

Forest were furious after referee Anthony Taylor and VAR ignored three penalty appeals at Goodison Park – all against Ashley Young – and issued a statement on social media after the game criticising those decisions.

The club said they had “warned” the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) that “the VAR is a Luton fan but they didn’t change him”.

“Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept,” the club said.

“Our patience has been tested multiple times.”

Everton substitute Beto left the field on a stretcher after a clash of heads late in the match and was taken to hospital, with his club later confirming he had been knocked unconscious.

Aston Villa maintained their challenge for a Champions League place by coming from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1 at Villa Park.

Dominic Solanke converted his 18th league goal of the season from the penalty spot but Villa hit back through Morgan Rogers on the ******* of half-time. Further goals from Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey took them six points above fifth-placed Tottenham, who have two games in hand.

West Ham completed a ********** week by being hammered 5-2 at London rivals Crystal Palace.

The Hammers, knocked out of the Europa League by Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, were 4-0 down at Selhurst Park after 31 minutes.

Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Emerson Palmieri’s own goal and Jean-Philippe Mateta put Palace in total control before Michail Antonio reduced the deficit before the break.

Dominant Palace struck again through Mateta’s second and Tyrick Mitchell’s late own goal was scant consolation.

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Sport,Soccer
#Liverpool #draw #level #top #beaten #Forest #fume #VAR

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