Hot Rod shines as VAR controversy overshadows West Brom win

Both sides named strong teams for the game and neutrals everywhere were rewarded with a breathtaking first half hour of football.

With just six minutes gone the hosts took the lead as Mohamed Salah seized on Chris Brunt’s poor backpass and whilst the Egyptian’s initial effort was saved, Roberto Firmino was on hand to chip the rebound over the stranded Ben Foster to open the scoring.

West Brom fans could have been forgiven for thinking it would be a long 90 minutes at that point but they were level within 90 seconds as Jay Rodriguez hammered home from the edge of the box.

Just four minutes later, West Brom took a shock lead, with Rodriguez again finding the net after being in the right place at the right time to tap Kieran Gibb’s low cross from the left into the onion bag.

- VAR Controversy -

However, after a spectacular start to the game, football then moved to one side as VAR took centre stage.

With 19 minuteson the clock West Brom thought they had extended their lead as Craig Dawson headed home Chris Brunt’s corner form the right, only for referee Craig Pawson to disallow the goal after a lengthy consultation with VAR, with Garry Barry adjudged to have been offside and interfering with play.

VAR wasn’t finished their either, as Liverpool were awarded a penalty six minutes later.

Salah went down when attempting to attack a cross from the right and whilst Paswon originally waved play on, that decision was reversed after a consultation with VAR.

Justice was done in the eyes of West Brom though as Firmino’s penalty came back off the underside of the crossbar and the ‘Baggies’ maintained their lead.

Liverpool almost levelled shortly afterwards when Salah went rounded Foster before pulling the ball back for Firmino but Evans and Dawson managed to block the ball away.

The visitors suffered a double blow just before half-time as both Kieran Gibbs and Hal Robson-Kanu pulled up with suspected hamstring problems and had to be replaced.

The use of VAR meant that four minutes had to be added on at the end of the first 45 and West Brom took full advantage to extend their lead.

Grzegorz Krychowiak found Dawson in the box with a lovely dinked ball and the defender fired low across goal, with the ball taking a nick off the hapless Joel Matip before nestling in the bottom corner.

- Lack of Liverpool response -

That goal meant that West Brom went in at the break with a two-goal lead and it was Alan Pardew’s side who threatened most in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Substitute Matt Phillips saw an effort pawed away by Mignolet, before Dawson had a goal correctly chalked off for offside.

Despite their need to get back into the game, Liverpool rarely threatened and when they did, Foster proved difficult to beat.

The former England man was called into action by substitutes Danny Ings and James Milner and passed both tests with flying colours, but with 12 minutes to give, West Brom were breached.

- Late Liverpool lifeline - 

Trent Alexander-Arnold crossed from the right and when West Brom failed to clear the ball dropped perfectly for Salah to sweep into the bottom corner to give his side a lifeline.

With that goal, Liverpool were a team transformed, applying constant pressure late on.

A series of corners and long balls into the box required Foster to intervene and the experience keeper did just that to help his side over the line.

Liverpool were left to rue Firmino's first-half penalty miss as West Brom weathered the storm to advance to the fifth round.

The victory will come as a welcome boost to a West Brom side that is struggling in the Premier League, whilst Liverpool's hopes of lifting a domestic cup end for another year.