Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: VAR right to cancel out James Tomkins’ goal against Liverpool

BY SAM SMITH

Roy Hodgson believes his Crystal Palace side had a goal correctly disallowed by VAR in their 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.

James Tomkins seemed to head the Eagles in front late in the second half, only for the technology to adjudge Jordan Ayew to have fouled Dejan Lovren while attempting to get on the end of Luka Milivojevic’s free kick.

Sadio Mane would go on to put the Reds ahead early in the second half. Roberto Firmino netted a late winner after Wilfried Zaha equalised for the hosts.

But the most debated moment of the game will be the disallowed goal. Hodgson said: “I don’t want to get involved in those things.

“The only point I will make and I have made it many times already. There has been such a hoo-ha over Arsenal’s supposed third goal against us which should have won them the game and what a wicked mistake VAR made.

“All I’ll say to you is the foul at the near post in that instance, where McArthur [sic] is bundled over by the player who bundles him over to flick it on for the goal.

“That was a much clearer and worse foul which luckily for us the VAR picked up. It wasn’t a mistake from VAR and I don’t think this was a mistake from VAR either.

“There was a foul at the near post, Jordan did unfortunately push Lovren and VAR picked it up and disallowed it.”

PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD