Premier League VAR statement released as Liverpool penalty U-turn explained

The Premier League has shed light on the controversial moment that saw Liverpool's second penalty claim in the match against Chelsea dismissed. Initially, the referee pointed to the spot after a clash involving Chelsea's keeper Robert Sanchez and Liverpool's Curtis Jones.

However, VAR prompted the man in the middle, John Brooks, to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. An update from the Premier League Match Centre X/Twitter account clarified the reasoning behind the decision reversal: "The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool for a foul by Sanchez on Jones," it said in a statement.

"The VAR deemed that Sanchez won the ball and no foul was committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball."

Earlier in the game, Liverpool had been granted a penalty when Levi Colwill fouled Jones in the box, which Mohamed Salah expertly converted despite having a previous penalty shout turned away. But the second was a narrow call that could have gone either way.

Chelsea fans and players were left aggrieved as they felt they were due a penalty of their own following a Trent Alexander-Arnold challenge on Jadon Sancho, but this time VAR chose not to step in. On that occasion, the on-field decision at the time was stuck to.

Liverpool.com says: It was, just about, the right call. Sanchez got some of the ball, even though he flew in with a reckless attempt to win the ball. It wasn't convincing from the Chelsea shot-stopper but it just about worked.#

Having already conceded one penalty, it would have been a major blow for the visitor to let in a second. It would have been interesting to see whether Liverpool changed the taker after Salah slotted home the first one.