Liverpool vs Arsenal officials changed at last minute after admitting VAR error

Michael Salisbury has been removed as the video assistant referee for Liverpool and Arsenal's clash at Anfield. Salisbury was the VAR for Chelsea's controversial 2-0 win at home to Fulham on Saturday and controversially disallowed visiting midfielder Josh King's goal.

The PGMOL have since acknowledged that it was an incorrect VAR intervention. John Brooks has been chosen to replace Salisbury on lead VAR duties on Merseyside.

Fulham looked to have gone 1-0 up against Chelsea when 18-year-old academy graduate King netted in the 21st minute. But the goal was ruled out for a 'careless challenge' by Rodrigo Muniz in the build-up.

Referee Robert Jones agreed with Salisbury's verdict after looking at the pitch-side monitor. The decision sparked a huge debate, as Muniz committed the foul on Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah while he was turning and in possession of the ball.

"How you disallow a goal like that is unbelievable," Fulham boss Marco Silva told TNT Sports following his side's defeat, leaving them winless after three Premier League games. "We have meetings with referee and people in charge, we all want to win. VAR is not here to re-referee the game.

READ MORE: Premier League sent furious VAR verdict after Man Utd controversy: ‘Killing the game’

READ MORE: Man Utd's 'disgraceful' penalty resurfaces as VAR hammered for costing Fulham at Chelsea

"I would prefer not to say something more because I would be punished. I want to be on the touchline next week to help my team, I don't want to be fined. But it has been a difficult start to the season with some decisions."

Silva added: "I would love to explain many things. The first goal - eight minutes extra time. After the first corner it was already nine minutes. It is time to stop the game. That is the rules.

"I asked the referee and he said because we lost time. But I checked the eight minutes. The game didn't stop. It's very difficult. I make mistakes, the referee makes mistakes, but when it is black or white, we cannot see something that is not there."

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Ex-Tottenham, Liverpool and Fulham star Danny Murphy bemoaned on Match of the Day: "This is about my love of the game and what's happening to it. I don't remember seeing a worse VAR decision than this. Muniz doesn't make a challenge, it's a skill. The challenge is from Trevoh Chalobah. For some reason VAR decided to get involved and I don't know why.

"It is a complete lack of understanding of the game. The referee had a wonderful opportunity when he went to the screen to say, 'No it's fine', but he didn't. And that got me. These are experienced guys and they have to do better. It is really poor from them and I hope there is an apology."

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