Mark Clattenburg says VAR made a big mistake in Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid

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Mark Clattenburg has exclusively told TBR Football that a significant officiating error was made during the UEFA Champions League clash between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.

Maurizio Mariani and his team of officials had already made one odd decision midway through the opening 45 minutes when awarding Liverpool a penalty, despite Jeremie Frimpong seeing his cross strike the hip of Clement Lenglet.

It was then rightly overturned after a brief check of the VAR monitor.

However – speaking exclusively to TBR Football – Mark Clattenburg believes those in the VAR booth made a mistake when allowing Marcos Llorente’s first goal to stand as Atletico Madrid eventually came within minutes of salvaging a point.

Exclusive: Mark Clattenburg says the offside Antoine Griezmann was impacting Alisson

It was a fine finish from Llorente as he poked beyond Alisson in the third minute of first half stoppage time, although the Brazilian glovesman immediately complained as the offside Antoine Griezmann stood in his way.

Strangely, Mariani was not advised to overturn the goal, and Atletico Madrid eventually came within two minutes of securing a 2-2 draw thanks to another strike from Llorente in the 81st minute, before Virgil van Dijk saved the day in the 92nd minute.

Clattenburg – who recently suggested a possible PGMOL change – feels Liverpool were hard done by to concede that first half strike to the Spaniard, telling TBR Football: “Atletico Madrid were awarded a goal just before half time and it has a suspicion of offside. Antoine Griezmann is clearly in an offside position close to the goalkeeper. For an offside to be called, Griezmann has to be in the line of the vision of the goalkeeper or affecting his ability to play the ball.

“When Marcos Llorente shoots to the goal, I believe that Ibrahima Konate is blocking the goalkeeper’s initial vision, but I also believe Griezmann to be affecting the goalkeeper’s vision when he is so close to the line of the ball, and also making a gesture to avoid the ball.

“This – in my opinion – affects Alisson’s ability to save the ball and therefore the goal should have been disallowed. My only opinion on why the goal was allowed to stand was that the VAR believes Griezmann does not affect the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball and not in line of his vision. This is still subjective of course, but I believe football would expect this to be offside.”

Clattenburg – who has called for referees to be trained more – officiated 297 Premier League games throughout his career as well as the 2016 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, so his verdict on officiating matters is a valuable one.

It was a real shock to see Llorente’s first goal stand, and it almost cost Liverpool two points in the UEFA Champions League until a thumping header from Van Dijk in the 92nd minute.

More to follow on TBR Football…