Ex-Premier League referee: Liverpool victims of major injustice as controversial Jordan Henderson footage emerges
Fulham’s opening goal in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday should have been disallowed, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee admitted he was “surprised” VAR did not intervene to rule the goal out due to a foul on Jordan Henderson in the build-up.
Henderson went down in the Fulham half as the home side won the ball back before launching a counter-attack that was finished by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The 32-year-old stayed down holding his leg but referee Andy Madley did not blow his whistle and VAR official Stuart Attwell did not intervene.
“When you make a statement about what is the threshold of what is a foul and what isn’t a foul, that leads the whole thing being open to inconsistency of interpretation,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Henderson’s not a player to do that, he’s been fouled.
“I think Fulham can count themselves lucky that they got away with it. It was a good move but it looked like a foul and it took out one of Liverpool’s players.
“I’m surprised that VAR didn’t come in there.
“They’ve raised the threshold for what is a foul and it appears they’ve raised the threshold of VAR in terms of when to come in.
“That’s resulted in a goal that probably should have been ruled out for a foul on Henderson.”
Liverpool are next in action next Monday (15 August) when they host Crystal Palace at Anfield.
They then face their first derby of the season the following Monday when they travel to Old Trafford to face Man United.
In other news, Liverpool may have found the next Luis Suarez amid a “big” reveal.