# Andy Madley and VAR should take credit – they got major Anfield calls right | Chris Foy

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/andy-madley-and-var-should-take-credit-they-got-major-anfield-calls-right-chris-foy/
- Published: 2026-11-02T19:15:12+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T20:33:23+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/nov/02/andy-madley-var-major-anfield-calls-right-arsenal-premier-league
- Topics: Sport

## Key points

- VAR had seven overturns across the first nine weekend games.
- Timber’s brief shirt pull did not meet the threshold for a penalty.
- Madueke’s clash with Mac Allister was not judged violent conduct.

## Summary

The article argues that referee Andy Madley and VAR made the right calls in Liverpool’s match against Arsenal, despite criticism over a penalty appeal. It says Jurriën Timber’s brief shirt tug on Alexander Isak did not clearly impede him, so the evidence did not meet the high threshold needed for VAR to overturn the on-field decision.

The article also praises Madley for not treating Noni Madueke’s head-to-head clash with Alexis Mac Allister as violent conduct. VAR was especially busy over the weekend, making seven overturns in the first nine games; one was the red card for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta after a dangerous challenge on Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven. Other reviews included a penalty for Aston Villa after the ball struck Sander Berge’s arm.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.