Liverpool and Tottenham played out a match that showed why both clubs are struggling in the Premier League this season. Many expected the former to win the game at Anfield comfortably, but that's not how things panned out.
The Reds took the lead in the first half through a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, which Guglielmo Vicario may well have done better with. Then, Igor Tudor's team claimed a late point through Richarlison, and the visitors deserved it for their efforts.
However, it could've been a very different game, according to former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett. The ex-FIFA referee has blasted VAR and the referee for missing a blatant red card offence during the top-flight clash.
Keith Hackett on 'Obvious' VAR Error in Liverpool vs Spurs
The man who got away with one in the eyes of Hackett was Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman stopped Richarlison from bearing down on goal in the second half with his hand on the Brazilian's shoulder.
"I can remember doing a piece in The Telegraph about Virgil van Dijk and seven of his clear, nailed-on offences that went unpunished," Hackett recalled during his furious rant. He went on to explain that the 34-year-old should've seen red and conceded a penalty, telling Football Insider:
"Nobody disagreed that they were offences, and he got away with all of them. He’s gotten away with one here. Is he holding the player? Yes. Has he impacted the player? Yes.
"Therefore, it’s a penalty. I think he’s denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Why has everyone ignored it? The video clips are clear. What is VAR doing?"
Hackett, 81, did admit that referee Chris Kavanagh didn't have the best view, but VAR should've stepped in to support. He added: "The referee hasn’t got the viewing angle that VAR have got. It’s very clearly a holding offence, one which has gone unpunished."
He then backed up his opinion on X (formerly Twitter), responding to a fan saying: "Agree 100% with your opinion that this was a foul, therefore penalty kick and red card for DOGSO."
Hackett Has Previously Slammed Van Dijk
As he mentioned, Hackett previously wrote an entire article dedicated to potentially punishable offences that the Liverpool skipper 'got away with'. Among those fouls were off-the-ball incidents with Richarlison and Kai Havertz.
The Reds' star defender has only ever been sent off in two Premier League matches for Liverpool, while also picking up just 27 yellow cards. For the position he plays and the fact he's pulled on the shirt 331 times for the club, that's an impressive disciplinary record, even if Hackett thinks he's got lucky on occasion.