Liverpool’s 2025–26 season has been defined by one painful question: has VAR cost them big moments? From a reversed penalty against PSG to disallowed goals and red card debates, the Liverpool VAR decisions 2026 list keeps growing. Arne Slot has now said publicly that “so many decisions have gone against” his club  and the numbers back him up.

VAR has been a hot-button issue in English and European football for years. But for Liverpool, the 2025–26 campaign has felt particularly brutal. After winning the Premier League title last season, Liverpool entered this year with high ambitions. Instead, they have found themselves fighting for a top-five Premier League finish  and crashing out of the Champions League while fighting a rearguard action against damaging VAR decisions.

At the halfway point of the Premier League season, only Everton and Fulham had been more negatively impacted by VAR than Liverpool, whose net balance of decisions stood at -2, with three penalties against and two red cards against, contributing to a net goals total of -3.This is the backdrop to a season that has been as frustrating as it has been eventful for the Reds.

The Biggest Liverpool VAR Decisions in 2026

1. The PSG Penalty That Changed Everything

The most damaging Liverpool VAR decision in 2026 came in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield on April 14.

Liverpool saw a second-half penalty controversially overturned against Paris Saint-Germain. Alexis Mac Allister went down following contact from PSG defender Willian Pacho inside the box. Pacho’s foot collided with Mac Allister after the Ecuadorian moved into his path. Referee Maurizio Mariani initially awarded the spot-kick but reversed the call after a pitch-side review.

The reversal was not seen as meeting the standard “clear and obvious” threshold that VAR is supposed to apply. Former referee Mark Clattenburg was among those who said the decision was baffling.

“I don’t understand why the VAR has recommended a review, when there was contact on the foot,” Clattenburg said. “When you see the contact on Mac Allister’s foot, people will say it’s soft, but it’s not wrong. There is contact. Once the referee gives it, I expect the penalty to be upheld.” 

Minutes after the penalty was overturned, Ousmane Dembele scored to open the scoring. He then added a second in injury time, sending PSG through 4-0 on aggregate.

2. Arne Slot’s Damning Verdict

Liverpool boss Arne Slot did not hide his frustration after the game. Speaking to Amazon Prime, Slot said: “I’m not surprised as so many decisions have gone against us this season.” He then challenged journalists to consider how many decisions had also gone against Liverpool in both legs against PSG.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate was equally direct: “For me it was a clear penalty. I was behind the referee. If we get the penalty and score, it would have been completely different.” 

3. The First Leg PSG VAR Drama

The Liverpool PSG VAR controversy did not start in the second leg. In the first leg in Paris, there were also two disputed calls  this time going in Liverpool’s favour.

Ibrahima Konate was adjudged to have fouled Warren Zaire-Emery inside the box. The referee initially pointed to the spot and booked Konate, but the decision was overturned after a monitor review. UEFA later explained: “Liverpool player, No5, challenged the ball in a fair manner without committing a foul on the opponent.

There was a second check a few minutes later when Konate appeared to shove Nuno Mendes in the box, but no penalty was given and VAR did not intervene. Commentators on UK rights-holder TNT Sports said the second incident was more deserving of a penalty than the first.

4. The Man City Moment That Sparked Debate

One of the most talked-about Liverpool VAR decisions of the season came in February, in a Premier League match against Manchester City.

Rayan Cherki’s late goal, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson caught upfield, sparked wild City celebrations at Anfield but the goal was ruled out following a VAR check due to a foul by Erling Haaland on Dominik Szoboszlai as they sprinted towards the empty net.

Gary Neville said the decision “erased one of the moments of the season” and provided ammunition for those who feel VAR is ruining football. “You’ve got to apply the rules and the laws,” Neville said, “but at that moment it just didn’t feel right.”Szoboszlai was sent off as a result, missing Liverpool’s next game.

5. The Season-Long Pattern

The Liverpool VAR decisions 2026 list is not limited to one or two games. Liverpool and Manchester United have each suffered the most VAR errors against them in the 2025–26 Premier League season, with seven apiece. Crystal Palace, however, has the biggest differential, with five errors against and only one in their favour.

VAR mistakes rose by 30 percent in the first half of the current Premier League season compared to the same period last season, growing from 10 to 13 identified errors by the Key Match Incidents panel across the first 19 games.

Rio Ngumoha: A Bright Spot Amid the Chaos

Not everything about Liverpool’s 2025–26 season has been negative. Teen winger Rio Ngumoha has been one of the few genuine highlights. On August 25, 2025, Ngumoha scored a 100th-minute winner against Newcastle United, becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 361 days.

He then became the club’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer at Anfield when he opened the scoring against Fulham at just 17 years and 225 days old.Ngumoha signed for Liverpool after leaving Chelsea’s academy. His pace, directness, and one-on-one ability have made him a fan favourite quickly.

Impact

The cumulative impact of these Liverpool VAR decisions in 2026 has been severe. The club has been eliminated from the Champions League. They are fighting for a top-five Premier League finish just to secure European football next season. Manager Arne Slot is under pressure.

Slot acknowledged the club is in transition, noting that Liverpool has sold eight to ten players to fund new signings and faces a further challenging summer with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson leaving on free transfers.VAR controversies have added an extra layer of difficulty to an already tough rebuild.

Conclusion

Liverpool’s VAR woes in 2026 are not just bad luck  they reflect a broader crisis of confidence in VAR across European football. The overturned Mac Allister penalty against PSG may well be remembered as a turning point in Liverpool’s season. Whether VAR will be reformed or scrapped altogether remains a live debate. For now, Liverpool fans are left asking the same question Arne Slot is: when does the luck change?

FAQs

How did Liverpool get Rio Ngumoha? 

Rio Ngumoha came through Chelsea’s youth academy before joining Liverpool’s academy system. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp noted that Ngumoha trained alongside his youngest son at Chelsea and was immediately struck by how quick his feet were and his strong work ethic.He has since become one of the most exciting young players in English football.

Which team benefited most from VAR in 2025–26?

 Chelsea have had the most VAR errors go in their favour in the 2025–26 Premier League season, benefiting from seven such decisions in total.Liverpool, by contrast, have been on the wrong side of the balance for much of the campaign.

Was Salah offside against Wolves?

 There is no specific confirmed VAR offside ruling against Mohamed Salah in a Liverpool vs Wolves match in the 2025–26 season in the search results available. However, Salah has been involved in several lengthy offside checks throughout the season. In a prior season, a VAR check on a Salah goal went back 18 seconds before the goal was scored, with critics arguing the attacking phase should not have been considered reset a decision that drew widespread criticism for stretching standard VAR protocol.