4 VAR Decisions Against Chelsea After Pochettino’s Comment Ahead of Carabao Cup Final vs Liverpool

• Chelsea and Liverpool will meet in the Carabao Cup final tomorrow
• It's the third final between both teams in two years, the second EFL
• Mauricio Pochettino has called for fairness from the match officials

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has called for fairness in officiating the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool after questionable decisions against his team in previous games.

The Blues felt cheated in their 4-1 loss to the Reds at Anfield after two penalty calls were waved after fouls on Conor Gallagher and Christopher Nkunku at decisive moments of the game.

Pochettino, speaking at his pre-match conference ahead of the final as quoted by The Telegraph, called for referee Chris Kavanaugh to be fair and not be guided by emotions of Jurgen Klopp’s farewell.

“I think we need to be sure we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision. When we played against Liverpool at Anfield, I think too many decisions, not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given. Duels, 50-50s, always for another colour. Always red. I want to be treated in a fair way,” he said.

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Sports Brief looks at four VAR decisions that went against the Blues in previous meetings against Liverpool.

VAR decisions against Chelsea Vs Liverpool

1. Lukaku’s disallowed goal

Romelu Lukaku came off the bench and thought he had given Chelsea the lead against Liverpool in the 2022 Carabao Cup final, but the goal was wrongly ruled out offside. Thomas Tuchel’s side lost 11-10 on penalties after Kepa Arrizabalaga missed his kick. The Blues fans still think they should have won if not for the decision.

2. Keita’s stamp on Chalobah

Another questionable decision in the 2022 final – Naby Keita and Trevoh Chalobah contested for a high ball. The Guinean got the ball before planting his boot into the defender's groin but was not even booked despite a VAR check. Manager Tuchel told Chelsea TV his player underwent surgery in the dressing room and needed six stitches.

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3. Mane’s elbow on Azpilicueta

Chelsea drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on January 2, 2022. Ten. Seconds into the game, Sadio Mane elbowed captain Cesar Azpilicueta during an aerial duel but was only given a yellow card. The Senegalese gave his team the lead minutes later.

4. Van Dijk’s fouls

When the Londoners lost 4-1 at Anfield last month, though they played poorly, there were two key instances they could have changed the game. Virgil van Dijk fouled Conor Gallagher with the scores at 0-0 and did the same to Christopher Nkunku with the scores at 3-1; both resulted in no penalties.

Pochettino aims dig at referees

Sports Brief previously reported on Pochettino aiming dig at referees after the PGMOL admitted human error in the VAR decision that ruled Luis Diaz's goal offside.

The Argentine manager made an analogy of a car and a driver, claiming he trusts the car and not the driver, to mean he trusts the technology but not the handlers.