𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄: VAR’s Penalty Call Against Liverpool Exposed as Major Error .

A newly surfaced clip on Reddit has reignited the controversy surrounding one of the key moments in Liverpool’s 3–2 loss to Brentford. The fresh angle appears to show that Virgil van Dijk’s challenge on Dango Ouattara actually occurred outside the penalty area.

 

The footage, shared by user NEEZ8, provides a wider view of the incident and seems to suggest that the contact happened just beyond the box. That’s crucial because referee Tim Robinson had initially given a free-kick before VAR upgraded it to a penalty — a call that allowed Igor Thiago to score Brentford’s decisive third goal.

 

While Liverpool’s overall display in west London was poor, this decision may well have determined the outcome. Had the foul been ruled outside the box, the game could have ended 2–2, giving the Reds a much-needed confidence boost.

 

Former referee Mark Clattenburg previously stated that Van Dijk made contact “on the line of the penalty area,” which counts as part of the box, but this new footage casts serious doubt on that conclusion — prompting many to question VAR’s judgment once again.

 

Arne Slot’s side have now suffered four straight league defeats — their worst run since 2021 — and although performances have dipped, it’s hard to ignore how often these tight calls go against them.

 

The controversy didn’t stop there either, as Cody Gakpo’s penalty shout added another layer of frustration in a game full of questionable decisions.

 

With Liverpool conceding two or more goals in nine of their last ten Premier League matches, they urgently need to tighten up. But when new evidence seems to contradict VAR’s verdicts, it’s difficult not to feel that fortune has deserted them.