Premier League forced to issue two VAR statements in Arsenal vs Liverpool controversy

The Premier League has been forced to explain two decisions in the clash between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal took the lead inside ten minutes when Bukayo Saka cut inside and fired home a fierce effort.

However, the Reds equalised quickly through Virgil van Dijk who scored from close range following a corner. On the brink of half-time, the home side re-established their lead through Mikel Merino's header.

This call was rather controversial though as VAR took a while to decide whether or not Merino was offside from the free kick. Eventually it was ruled that Van Dijk had kept all of the players onside through his boot.

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The Premier League Match Centre wrote on X: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR as there were no attackers in an offside position." But, there was no explanation for the delay.

Earlier in the game, Arsenal missed out on a penalty when Ibrahima Konate tackled Gabriel Martinelli. A less controversial decision but the Match Centre confirmed: "The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Konate on Martinelli was checked and confirmed by VAR - deeming that Konate won the ball.

Going into this match, Liverpool were aiming to restore themselves at the top of the Premier League. Manchester City uprooted them at the summit on Saturday afternoon with a narrow 1-0 victory over bottom of the division Southampton.

Arsenal will move a point behind the Reds in the table should they be victorious. The Gunners lost ground in the title race last weekend when they fell to a 2-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth.

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