VAR shows its pros and cons

Another game, another controversy created by the party guest we wish we’d never invited. This time we saw the good side of VAR – Adam Lallana’s assist was correctly adjudged to have come off his shoulder rather than his arm – the bad, when Wolves’ equaliser was ruled out for a stray big toe in the build up, and the ugly, in the storm that followed on the pitch and on social media.

Jonny may well have been marginally offside, although we know there is no certainty with VAR technology, but the bigger question is whether VAR truly upholds the spirit of the game. Should goals like this one, which only six months ago would have been widely agreed to be fair, now be chalked off? Aren’t we taking away the most entertaining part of football – goals – every time VAR uncovers some imperceptible infringement?

Perhaps Graeme Souness’s suggestion, made in the Sky Sports studio at half-time, wasn’t such a bad one. Souness would prefer that the attacker needs only to have a part of their body onside, rather than every part that can score a goal. That might only shift the pedantry back a year, but at least it would shift it in a direction that would allow more goals, not fewer.

Lallana sends out timely reminder

It was a couple of years since Adam Lallana’s previous Premier League assist, so the midfielder would have been delighted to end 2019 with that particularly itch finally scratched. His shouldered pass into the path of Sadio Mane became the subject of VAR debate, denying it the proper praise it should have received. The movement was very deliberate and the measured control was perfect for Mane to finish what would ultimately be the game’s decisive goal.

At a time when Liverpool are storming towards the title, fighting to defend their Champions League crown and with Euro 2020 on the horizon, there could not be a better moment for Lallana to resurface.

Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Show all 22 1 /22 Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Alisson - 7 LEICESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Alisson Becker of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool FC at The King Power Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8 Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold takes a throw-in during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on December 26, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Joe Gomez - 7 Liverpool's English defender Joe Gomez (R) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese midfielder Pedro Neto (L) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Virgil van Dijk - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Andy Robertson - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: Andy Robertson of Liverpool and Jonny Otto of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Jordan Henderson - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jordan Henderson of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Georginio Wijnaldum - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool With Jonny of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Adam Lallana - 7 Liverpool's English midfielder Adam Lallana (L) holds off Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Roberto Firmino - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Roberto Firmino of Liverpool before the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Sadio Mane - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Sadio Mane of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Mohamed Salah - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Rui Patricio - 6 The ball beats Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio (R) for Liverpool's first goal scored by Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Ryan Bennett - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool closed down by Ryan Bennett of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Conor Coady - 7 Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (L) jumps against Wolverhampton Wanderers' English defender Conor Coady (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Max Kilman - 7 WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Max Kilman of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the UEFA Europa League group K match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Slovan Bratislava at Molineux on November 07, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Castro Otto - 7 WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Jonny Castro Otto of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town at Molineux on February 05, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Leander Dendoncker - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool and Leander Dendoncker of Wolverhampton Wanderers battle for possession during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Ruben Neves - 6 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves gestures after VAR confirms the opening goal for Liverpool during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Joao Moutinho - 7 WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on December 27, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Ruben Vinagre - 7 WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 12: Ruben Vinagre of Wolverhampton Wanderers runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League group K match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Besiktas at Molineux on December 12, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Pedro Neto - 7 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese midfielder Pedro Neto (R) celebrates with team-mates after putting the ball in the Liverpool net, a goal that was subsequently ruled out by VAR due to an offside in the build up to it during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Wolves vs Liverpool Diogo Jota - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool with Diogo Jota o Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 29, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Henderson digs in for his team

There can be few more reliable footballers in the Premier League right now than Jordan Henderson. The Liverpool captain switched roles today, dropping into the holding position which Fabinho usually occupies, to great effect. There he quietly directed proceedings, rarely looking flustered and constantly providing an option for his team-mates as Liverpool played a more patient game than their normal fast and furious approach. He made a key late block and it was indicative of a disciplined performance, even if it will win few plaudits.

Wolves pay price of festive schedule

Wolves came admirably close to taking something from Anfield, particularly considering they were playing, and beating, Manchester City 48 hours earlier. Nuno Espirito Santo made four changes coming into the game, leaving out important players including Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore and Romain Saiss. Ultimately their chances here were probably held back by the TV scheduling, and that doesn’t seem quite right.

Gomez back in form