Despite their success so far this season, Chelsea have had big decisions not go their way. In the last 3 weeks, they have managed just 4 points. Granted they have gone against the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester in which case, historically, most teams would consider winning one, drawing one, and losing on to be relatively strong results. However, in each of these games big calls have been made or not that could have changed the outcome of the game.
Liverpool Defeat Chelsea 2-1
Lets start with the first and arguably the most important of the three instances, Liverpool. 21 minutes into the first half, the game has been open but neither team was able to create much. Jaden Sancho was taking on Trent Alexander-Arnold on nearly every attack. The right back was handling Sancho’s trickery quite well. Until the English winger beat the full back, got to the byline, cut back and would have had his man beat if his foot hadn’t been stepped on and he taken out inside the box.
I mean it doesn’t get more clear and obvious than that. Trent was beaten, Sancho turned him, and he tried to go through his legs, missed the ball, and landed directly on top of his foot. Sancho attempted to get away but ultimately was held back and goes over. The referee missed the call in real time and after VAR had a look they said nothing is to be given.
Just 5 minutes later, Salah gets away a bit on the counter, fires a shot that deflects around the box with Curtis Jones in the area. Levi Colwill goes to the clear the ball, Curtis Jones doesn’t even know where the ball is yet but gets in the way of Chelsea defender and falls over.
Curtis Jones isn’t even looking in the direction of the ball. As soon as he feels a bit of contact, he jumps in the air, goes down, and the ref gives a penalty. VAR confirmed the decision and Liverpool take a 1-0 lead.
The fact of the matter is, both Curtis Jones and Sancho were fouled. All be it, relatively soft fouls, but by law fouled. The only reason one was awarded a penalty is because the ref made the call on the field. Had Sancho been awarded a penalty down the other end of the pitch, VAR would not have overturned it considering there is clear evidence that he was stepped on and went over after not being able to continue his move toward the ball.
Chelsea go on to lose the game 2-1 and that penalty was ultimately the reason. Neither team played a great game or create many clear cut chances but it was overall a back and forth affair that most people would say a draw was probably the right result. Chelsea would have benefited the extra point in the league table and more importantly for everyone else, Liverpool would have dropped 2 points and their lead at the tope would not be as convincing.
Chelsea Prevail Over Newcastle 2-1
Moving on to Newcastle, the least egregious of this string of calls not going the way of the Blues. Chelsea and Newcastle faced off in an even battle where the London side were just more clinical. Cole Palmer was the star man with a brilliant ball out of the back to put Neto through and assist Jackson. In the second half, he took matters into his own hands and dribbled straight at the Newcastle back line before smashing one near post, bottom corner to regain their lead. Newcastle created chances to even things out but could not capitalize.
Come the 90th minute, with just stoppage time to play, Christopher Nkunku found himself inside the box, cut back across Dan Burn, and had his shirt pulled for which the ref awarded a penalty.
Chelsea think a penalty is coming, the chance to go up 3-1 and put the game to bed. VAR gets involved and says maybe there isn’t too much in that. They might be right but the job of VAR is to overturn clear and obvious mistakes by the on-field official. Nkunku finds space in the box, cuts back into, Dan Burn grabs his shirt, impedes him from making a play on the ball, and Nkunku goes over easily. Was there much in there? No, but given the circumstances the ref did not make a clear and obvious mistake. Nkunku went to play ball, the ref saw Burn grabbing his shirt, and he went over trying to get to the ball. Penalty. Luckily for Chelsea, the 3 points would be secured but the last minutes of the game would become much more difficult.
Manchester United Find a Sense of Form Drawing 1-1 to Chelsea
The image speaks for itself. In an uninspiring performance on both sides of the pitch, a 1-1 draw is a fair result. However, how is Lisandro Martinez not sent off.
The ball is not even in frame because Palmer flicked it back over Martinez’s head. United’s center back put in a lackluster challenge on the ball that is nowhere to be seen, came in studs up and directly kicks Cole Palmer’s knee. It is textbook dangerous play. Studs up, above the knee, not making a play on the ball. VAR has a look and says “eh, looks fine”. If that challenge is not endangering a player then I don’t know what is.
All of this being said, Chelsea have not played outstanding by any means and 4 points might even be fair. But there is a case to be made that each time VAR has gotten involved when it could benefit the blues, they have sided with their opposition.
