VAR Storm at Selhurst as Hackett Tears Into Handball Call

Selhurst Park under the lights, a raucous crowd, and a result that sent shockwaves through the Premier League. Crystal Palace’s 2-1 win over Liverpool had drama to spare, yet it’s the officiating that’s pinched the headlines. Retired referee and former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has taken a dim view of the decision to let Liverpool’s equaliser stand, insisting Mohamed Salah’s handball in the build-up should have been punished.

Palace’s iron resolve, Liverpool’s first league blemish

Oliver Glasner’s Eagles look made of granite. Coming into their sixth league outing still unbeaten and fresh from a 17-game run that included turning over Liverpool in the Community Shield back in August, Palace were in no mood to roll over. And when Eddie Nketiah popped up in the 97th minute to steer home the winner, Selhurst erupted as Palace preserved their status as the Premier League’s only unbeaten side.

The equaliser that shouldn’t have stood?

For a spell it looked like Liverpool had wriggled out with a point after Federico Chiesa levelled late on. But the flashpoint is the moment before the ball drops, when Salah leaps in the box and the ball appears to brush his outstretched arm. The on-field referee played on; VAR checked it and stuck with the goal. Hackett, who knows the PGMOL machinery inside out, was scathing: in his view Salah made himself bigger, clearly handled, and the footage offered enough to intervene. If that isn’t “clear and obvious,” what is?

Hackett’s charge: process failure, not just human error

Hackett didn’t mince his words. He questioned whether there was a breakdown in communication or a technical shortfall because, as he sees it, the angles were sufficient to show a handball offense. The law is simple enough: arm raised, ball-to-hand contact that makes the body unnaturally larger—expect a whistle. Instead, we got a green light. That inconsistency is precisely what keeps fuelling the VAR debate.

Nketiah the match-winner, Palace the real deal

Regardless, Palace earned the right to win. They pressed smartly, stayed compact, and punished Liverpool’s sloppiness when it mattered. Nketiah’s late finish was a cool dagger, and on this evidence Glasner’s side are no fad. Liverpool, billed as defending champions and until now perfect in the league, finally hit a speed bump—and on the balance of play, they can’t grumble about the result.

Where do Klopp’s men go from here?

It’s not panic stations for Liverpool, but the performance will sting. Too many loose touches, too few controlled phases, and the wide areas were second best for long spells. The bigger talking point, though, is trust in the process: if VAR can’t tidy up something as straightforward as a raised arm contacting the ball, then the threshold needs clarity, fast.

Palace’s resilience and Liverpool’s wobble will have punters recalibrating expectations — if you’re comparing odds and form, our best betting sites guide is a handy place to start.

The pundit’s verdict

Credit Palace, full stop. They were organised, brave, and clinical when it mattered. As for the controversy: Hackett’s been around the block, and when a former PGMOL chief is calling it a nailed-on handball, the conversation at Stockley Park should be a long one. The league moves quickly; Liverpool will fancy a swift response. But this night belonged to the Eagles—and to a VAR call that will be replayed all week.