Alan Pardew has big VAR concerns after West Brom win at Liverpool
Sunday 28 January 2018 07:26, UK
Alan Pardew has big concerns over the use of VAR despite it clearing up big decisions in West Brom's 3-2 victory at Liverpool on Saturday.
In a chaotic FA Cup fourth-round tie dominated by VAR, West Brom saw off Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool thanks to Jay Rodriguez's quick-fire double and Joel Matip's own goal in the first half.
VAR was used three times in the first half at Anfield, first to deny West Brom a goal, then to award Liverpool a penalty, and finally to confirm the visitors' third goal.
But Pardew said: "It's hard to know where to start. You're all experienced reporters and have seen many, many games, but I don't think that's what you want to see going forward if you're a Liverpool fan, or a West Brom fan.
"Firstly there's no communication from the referee to us. I haven't got the answers but as a football man on the sidelines I wasn't comfortable in that first half, it was kind of mysterious at times.
"It was four or five minutes, the Salah decision. You're going from high tempo work rate to nothing. We had a hamstring just after that. Now as a coach, we have to change, we're going to get our players to do a warm-up in that situation.
"The Dawson goal would never be disallowed in any game without the system (VAR). It's marginal, really marginal."
Regarding his side's performance, Pardew said Albion fully deserved to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, and after complaints from fans of a lack of attacking football under previous manager Tony Pulis, the new boss said he set his side up to be fearless at Anfield.
"It was a really professional, positive performance from us. We played without fear, which you have to do here. I set them up that way, because after the Swansea loss I thought Jurgen would go very strong tonight.
"We've been very good without actually getting the three or four goals and tonight we looked like getting three or four goals and that's a really good sign. We're going to try and bring a striker in before Wednesday and that will hopefully lift us as well.
"I don't think Liverpool will have any complaints, I think we deserved to win. I'm very proud of the players and they should be proud of themselves."
