Jamie Carragher has admitted to the Greatest Game Podcast that VAR has left him so terrified that he could barely celebrate Liverpool’s last minute winner over Tottenham Hotspur recently.
Liverpool beat Spurs last month in dramatic fashion, with Roberto Firmino heading home in the last minute.
But Carragher said that the moment the ball hit the back of the net he was immediately hesitant to cheer, as he felt the goal could get ruled out.
“When Liverpool got the winning goal against Tottenham, I wasn’t doing that game [for Sky], and it’s a massive moment. If you’re in the stadium and there’s no VAR the place would erupt,” he said.
“But I was watching at home on TV, and I couldn’t celebrate because I was just terrified of something getting given.
“The opposite had happened to me when Jordan Henderson scored in the last minute. I was jumping round the house and then it’s offside by a 1m. That’s the biggest thing for me.”
Both Liverpool and Tottenham have suffered from their fair share of controversial VAR incidents this season, so Carragher’s caution should come as no surprise.
Liverpool were penalised in the last minute against Brighton & Hove Albion when Andy Robertson was deemed to have kicked Danny Welbeck, while Spurs also gave away a penalty early on in the campaign, after Eric Dier was judged to have handled the ball in the closing stages of their game against Newcastle United.
Liverpool’s goal, on this occasion, was deemed to be a fair one though, and it could yet prove to be vital this season.
Tottenham are currently just four points behind Liverpool in the Premier League standings, and they have a game in hand over Jurgen Klopp’s men.
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