Explained: Why Liverpool face FA fine despite being victims of VAR farce in controversial Tottenham defeat

The Reds were victims of another high-profile error from those overseeing the technology that is supposed to benefit football at the very highest level. Luis Diaz thought he had opened the scoring in north London when racing onto a Mohamed Salah pass and producing a clinical finish – but the flag went up.

All incidents such as that are reviewed by those in the VAR booth, and they bizarrely wasted no time at all before passing a “check complete” message on to match referee Simon Hooper. No lines were drawn and it has since been revealed that those at Stockley Park were of the opinion that the goal had initially been given, leading to them confirming that decision to be correct.

PGMOL released an apology in the wake of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat, but that is scant consolation to the Reds. They also had two players sent off, with questions asked of whether the challenge that saw Curtis Jones dismissed was reckless enough for a straight red – following another review – and if Diogo Jota deserved the first of the two yellows that he picked up in the space of 22 seconds.

Jurgen Klopp’s side also saw Alexis Mac Allister, Salah, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk collect cautions. Any side picking up more than five bookings in a game face sanction from the FA. A £25,000 fine is the common punishment, with the Liverpool Echo reporting on how the Reds are now waiting to discover whether they will be hit in the pocket or let off the hook as a result of some debatable officiating.