Howard Webb admits a VAR mistake negatively impacted Liverpool earlier this month.

Liverpool are dominating the league, and critics unable to cope with that success have claimed we’ve benefitted from lucky decisions. But Howard Webb’s recent remarks have effectively dismantled that narrative.

Appearing on Match Officials Mic’d Up, the PGMOL chief addressed a major missed call involving James Tarkowski’s reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister earlier this month.

Webb, 53, said: “This should’ve been a red card. The officials made a mistake in not sending Tarkowski off.”

He explained that although the referee saw Tarkowski get the ball and considered the tackle reckless, VAR wrongly prioritized the fact that he touched the ball rather than the dangerous nature of the challenge.

Tarkowski chose to go in the way he did, using excessive force and risking Mac Allister’s safety – that meets the threshold for a red card, Webb emphasized.

It’s validating to hear confirmation that our suspicions were right – it was a dreadful tackle that somehow went unpunished by both the referee and VAR.

Tarkowski should have seen red at Anfield. While Arne Slot’s team still secured a 1-0 victory, the incident was largely swept under the rug. The fact that Sam Barrott missed it live is one thing, but Paul Tierney’s failure to overturn the decision after a VAR review is deeply concerning.

That’s exactly why Alan Shearer didn’t hold back, telling the officials to “get a grip” – the error was just that obvious.