Man Utd have SEVEN goals against them overturned by VAR – most in Prem – so is the ‘Varchester’ nickname warranted?
MANCHESTER UNITED lead the Premier League in goals scored against them being overturned by VAR – with SEVEN alone this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been indebted to video technology time and time again.
From Sadio Mane’s handball goal in October to Jordan Ayew’s disallowed strike on Thursday night, Man Utd have been very lucky, indeed.
Between that and their constant winning of penalties – even earning one against Aston Villa after Bruno Fernandes stamped on Ezri Konsa – United chiefs might want to consider playing the lottery.
Man Utd will certainly hope VAR sticks around, while other clubs, including West Ham, aim to abolish it.
We’ve taken a look at all seven goals against United ruled out by VAR this season…
MAN UTD 1 LIVERPOOL 1 – October 22
JURGEN KLOPP’S side went into the game with a 100 per cent record, only to see it ruined with a draw at Old Trafford.
But it really could have been yet another three points for Liverpool in this one, but for VAR.
Sadio Mane thought he’d scored for the Reds, only for VAR to chalk it off for an alleged handball.
Man Utd’s goal was also controversial, with a foul in the build-up not spotted.
After the game, Marcus Rashford admitted: “Today we were on the right end of the VAR decisions.”
And Klopp moaned: “They scored a goal which shows all the problems with VAR.
“Mr Atkinson let the game run I’m sure because there is VAR. For me it was a clear foul.”
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LIVERPOOL 2 MAN UTD 0 – January 19
MAN UTD had to wait until the New Year to have VAR back on side.
Again against Liverpool, Roberto Firmino had a goal ruled out with Virgil van Dijk said to have committed a foul on David De Gea in the build-up.
Fortunately for the Reds, they still won 2-0.
But it was a nervy finish, with the victory only secured by Mohamed Salah’s 93rd-minute strike after United threw all bodies forward.
CHELSEA 0 MAN UTD 2 – February 17
WHILE a 2-0 win seems pretty cut and dry, the game had much more to it than that.
First and foremost, United should have been down to ten men after Harry Maguire kicked Michy Batshuayi in the groin.
VAR examined the incident, but STILL failed to send the England man off.
Chelsea then had their misery compounded after Maguire scored and they then had TWO goals ruled out by VAR.
Kurt Zouma had a strike disallowed for a push by Cesar Azpilicueta, while Olivier Giroud was deemed offside for his “goal”.
Frank Lampard called the game “soul destroying”.
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MAN UTD 3 WATFORD 0 – February 23
JUST six days later, Man Utd were the beneficiaries of a VAR decision again.
With United leading just 1-0, Troy Deeney had a goal ruled out for handball.
United would then go on to score twice late in the game to kill the tie.
After the game, Hornets boss Nigel Pearson begrudgingly admitted: “It’s frustrating… but it’s part of the game now.”
EVERTON 1 MAN UTD 1 – March 1
THIS one was a real bitter blow for the Toffees – as VAR intervened to deny them a big win in stoppage time.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he’d prodded the ball home.
But VAR decided Gylfi Sigurdsson – stricken on the floor – was interfering from an offside position.
The decision led to Carlo Ancelotti screaming at the referee and subsequently being sent off.
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CRYSTAL PALACE 0 MAN UTD 2 – July 17
WITH the game poised at just 1-0 to United, Jordan Ayew thought he’d scored an all-important equaliser.
But his 55th-minute strike was chalked off for offside by the barest of margins.
After the game, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “”Is the VAR broken? Serious question.”
Boss Roy Hodgson added: “The gods of fortune are not smiling on us.”