Klopp: Clarification needed over VAR

The Champions League clash between Liverpool and Napoli has become another game to be overshadowed by discussion over the effectiveness of the Video Assistant Referee.

With the scores locked at 0-0 in the Reds' first group game against the Italian side, Andy Robertson was adjudged to have fouled Jose Callejon inside the box eight minutes from time.

Dries Mertens converted the spot-kick before former Spurs man Fernando Llorente made the most of a extremely rare mistake by Virgil Van Dijk to seal the victory for the home side in injury time.

In a tight contest where small margins were at play, understandably the penalty decision was at the forefront of Jurgen Klopp’s mind after the contest.

The Liverpool Echo reported Klopp as saying:

“I'm pretty sure there are different views on that situation but I’m sorry, when the player jumps before there is contact then there cannot be a penalty.

“ We conceded the 1-0 and that was the game-changer. We can't change that any more, though. That's how it is. We carry on.

“I said last week against Newcastle that if it would have been decisive then we would have a different discussion. Today it was decisive.

“I could say a lot of things about it but I'm not a bad loser. I'm not the best loser but I'm not bad.

The manager who was much more pleased with the performance of his side at the Stadio San Paulo compared to the corresponding fixture last season, said that there was still too many grey areas with VAR that needed to be worked out.

“ It was very decisive in the moment. I think it (VAR) will help in the long-term but as long as human beings made the decision there is still potential for failure. 

“We are all like this.

“ What can I say? The rules are like this, and they'd have to adjust the rules. 

“The German (refereeing) team, they do it for a while already, the VAR was also German, they have been using it longer than others.

“They will find an explanation about why they did the right thing, that's how it is.

“If he didn't whistle for the penalty he wouldn't have been overruled by VAR. 

“We all wanted to have more clarification in these things, now we don't have it.

In his post-match press conference, Klopp asked the assembled media a show of hands into how many of them thought it was a penalty.

Only two people put their hands up.

Then the German produced the line of the night.

“Only two guys in the room think it's a penalty then it's still a penalty, they both wear glasses but mine are the right prescription.”

Class response.