Man City step up pressure on Reds
Manchester City kept up their pursuit of leaders Liverpool with a routine 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on a day when VAR stole the Premier League headlines with a series of decisions that left supporters baffled and managers incensed.
The confusion was greatest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the big screen flashed up that VAR had disallowed Dele Alli’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Watford, only for the referee to signal the goal stood.
Technology also denied Burnley an equaliser in a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers two goals in their 1-1 draw with Southampton, and Aston Villa an opener in a 2-1 win over Brighton.
Less controversially, Chelsea beat Newcastle 1-0 and Everton overturned West Ham 2-0.
The game between Bournemouth and Norwich City was goalless. There was little to dispute in Manchester City’s win at Palace.
Gabriel Jesus and David Silva netted twice inside a minute for City.
“The visitors should have had more, with Raheem Sterling particularly wasteful, but victory came with the bonus of a cameo showing from fit-again John Stones, whose return will ease their defensive crisis.
Spurs, who had conceded 10 goals in their previous two games, looked to be heading for a fifth defeat in six matches after Abdoulaye Doucoure put Watford ahead.
But Alli took advantage of a flap by keeper Ben Foster on 86 minutes and put the ball in the net after it brushed his shoulder.
Though the VAR check ruled the strike legitimate, the big screen indicated “no goal” before it was corrected.
“I was sure it didn’t hit my hand but then you start thinking did it,” Alli said.
“I tried to make sure it didn’t touch it so I could get the strike away.”
Watford felt they should have had an earlier penalty but, in common with most other instances in the league this season, VAR refused to overrule the referee, who indicated that Gerard Deulofeu had not been fouled by Jan Vertonghen.
At the King Power Stadium, Leicester moved to third, two points behind City. Technology also proved decisive.
Burnley’s Chris Wood was denied a second goal when he was adjudged to have fouled Jonny Evans in the build-up, which left Burnley manager Sean Dyche furious.
“I’m a big fan of VAR but it has to be used more wisely than that,” he said.
“Their defender is never going to get that in a million years.
“There was a touch, but there is no intention and his gait doesn’t change.