Ex-Premier League referee gives verdict on VAR controversies after Arsenal beat Liverpool

Former Premier League referee Graham Barber has given his verdict on whether Liverpool midfielder Trey Nyoni should have been sent off inArsenal's1-0 win at Anfield, and has also criticised Alexis Mac Allister's behaviour in a separate flashpoint withNoni Madueke. Arsenal picked up all three points in the big game against Liverpool on Sunday to move to the top of the Premier League table.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game, but the result was not without its controversies. Before the goal, there had been suggestions that Nyoni should have been sent off.

As early as the first minute, the young midfielder appeared to put his studs down the back of Martin Ødegaard's leg, connecting with his Achilles. No card was shown and VAR did not get involved, which caused plenty of stir on social media.

Just 24 hours earlier, Jean-Philippe Mateta had been sent off for a similar offence when sliding in on Tottenham captain Micky van de Ven. Liverpool were also denied a penalty when Jurrien Timber pulled Isak's shirt back inhibiting his ability to make contact with the cross.

Barber's thoughts on VAR mess Barber explained that the Mateta red card came down to the intensity of the challenge. "I think the sending off when we talk about the other one was about the intensity and ferociousness of the challenge," he said.

He felt the Nyoni challenge was a different type of foul. "I think with this one it was mis-timed.

I don't think he meant to hurt the player, but the question you raise is, and we've had this conversation before, do you get consistency from match to match? And sadly you don't, and then we start comparing game incidents in other games.

He concluded that the right call was probably made. It's very difficult to do that and here I thought it was a careless challenge, I didn't think it was reckless.

Later in the match, VAR had to check whether Madueke had headbutted Mac Allister, who ended up on the deck. The incident was checked and cleared by VAR Stuart Attwell."