Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said VAR had endured a ‘shocking’ start to the season.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean added:
“I do not think it is a foul, it should stand. I do not know where else the attacker can put his foot. He has taken a long time over this Rob [Jones].”
18-year-old Fulham star Josh King had scored a wondergoal at their greatest rivals’ home Stamford Bridge. He had completely baffled a Chelsea defender, turning him inside out, before finishing expertly to give the Cottagers the lead.
“It was hard to find anyone not employed by the home club to agree with Michael Salisbury, who was quickly removed as the VAR official for the Liverpool v Arsenal clash the following day.”
Jones allowed play to continue but was instructed by Michael Salisbury on VAR to review earlier footage of Rodrigo Muniz’s contact with Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up.
Muniz had turned to win and shield the ball and with Chalobah behind him, his foot landed on the Chelsea player’s foot. Chalobah hurled himself to the floor to let the referee know but Jones played on.
Then Salisbury inserted himself into the matter and called Jones to the touchline tv screen. After a long look, Jones disallowed the goal.
It was hard to find anyone not employed by the home club who agreed with Salisbury, who was himself quickly removed as the VAR official for the Liverpool v Arsenal clash the following day.
The decision was crushing for Fulham but their day was about to get worse. Salisbury awarded Chelsea a penalty with justification for a handball against Ryan Sessegnon.
It was a clear handball but the VAR missed a slighltly less clear offence by Joao Pedro in the build up and a slightly less obvious foul from Moises Caicedo on Alex Iwobi, both of which would have resulted in a Fulham free kick. It seemed like a case of double double standards.
Shortly after the disallowed King effort, Pedro headed Chelsea in front to give Chelsea a 1-0 halftime lead.
Enzo Fernandez stroked home the penalty to secure a 2-0 win for the Blues.
Fulham manager Marco Silva was furious:
“The penalty. Yes, it’s handball. Definitely, it is handball but you can find two or three fouls for ourselves,” Silva noted when asked about the penalty decision.
“Stamp on Iwobi and handball from Joao Pedro, also the pushing on Joachim [Andersen]. Nothing from VAR. The same VAR that in the first half, found something unbelievable. But the same people do not see a stamp on Iwobi.”
The Blues can count themselves lucky but they cannot dwell on this game for two long as injuries and departures change their selection options up front.
Robert Calcutt is a sports Writer for TalkSport and Absolute Chelsea, as well as being the former London Editor on this site:
“An arguably VAR-cical west London derby delivered three more points for unbeaten Chelsea. Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez stepped up in crucial moments.
“But Liam Delap’s injury will overshadow the win.
“With Nicolas Jackson at Bayern Munich, it’s teenager Marc Guiu who will deputise after his Sunderland recall.
“And if Pedro is sidelined, will a lack of depth upfront haunt Chelsea?”
Chelsea have played in all three London derbies so far
Chelsea are unbeaten in their three fixtures so far, all London derbies.
Elsewhere, there was barely an incident to talk about as Arsenal went to Anfield in the much anticipated clash of the only two sides left with 100% records. It was a drab affair with neither side looking capable of unlocking their opponents’ defences.
Eventually, it was settled by a set piece in the 83rd minute when Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai scored with an unstoppable free kick to leave the Merseyside champions with maximum points from their first three games.
The biggest winners in the capital were West Ham and Crystal Palace both of whom scored 0-3 wins in the Midlands.
The relief was bigger for the Hammers as head coach Graham Potter was under fire after his side’s midweek elimination at Wolverhampton in the League Cup.
However, three goals in the last ten minutes from Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paquetta and Callum Wilson secured a lifeline for Potter but sank Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo into a deeper quagmire with his club owner.
It’s possible Nuno overtook Potter in the famed sack race, the bookmakers’ cruel term for which EPL manager will be the next to lose his job.
Equally dismal was the performance of Forest’s midland neighbours Aston Villa.
They were without wantaway keeper Enrico Martinez and manager Unai Emery refused to answer questions about his absence pre-match.
He was repalced by Dutchman Marco Bizot who gave away the penalty that led to Palace’s first goal, converted by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Marc Guehi and Ismaili Sarr added late goals as Villa fell to pieces with the stadium practically empty when the final whistle went.
Guehi narrowly avoided a transfer to big spending Liverpool the next day and his continued presence at Selhurst Park will be a huge boost for the South Londoners, who moved up to 8th in the table.
West Ham move up to 16th.
Tottenham and Brentford both lost fixtures they would have expected to win.
Bournemouth won 0-1 at White Hart Lane, Evanilson scoring after just five minutes. The Cherries had 20 shots compared to Spurs five, and the home side did not force a single corner despite commanding 62% of the possession.
Brentford fell 2-1 at promoted Sunderland despite Igor Thiago giving them a 77th minute lead. They couldn’t hold that lead and sink to a worrying 15th. That said, they are only one point behind Manchester United in 9th.
The Premier League now takes 12 days off for the international break.
Remarkably all seven clubs will play in London when it returns. For the first time this season, we will also have two London derbies.
Brentford host Chelsea in West London while, at the other end of the District Line, West Ham host Spurs . The distances between the vistors and hosts is 4 and 5.6 miles respectively.
Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Leeds all travel to London to play Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
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