Milner takes cheeky swipe at VAR as Liverpool star references armpit-gate

James Milner, Jurgen Klopp TEAMtalk

Liverpool veteran James Milner has taken to social media to deliver a pointy barb in the direction of the much-maligned VAR, much to the delight of Reds fans.

VAR was in the spotlight in Liverpool’s clash with Aston Villa at the beginning of the month, with a Roberto Firmino goal being chalked off after the Brazilian’s armpit was adjudged to be offside.

The controversy raged after the initial set of lines drawn up on screen put the forward in an onside position, but Jurgen Klopp’s men rallied to secure three points with two late goals from Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane.

33-year-old Milner, himself no stranger to sarcastic and humorous posts on social media, has leapt into action once more to make light of the technological overlord.

Milner wrote on Twitter: “Practised VAR offsides today, Hendo was off by a glove here,” along by a picture of club captain Jordan Henderson.

The accompanying hashtag ‘not as bad as being off by an armpit’, referenced armpit-gate, with the post generating more than 24,000 likes.

Milner has been an outspoken critic of the system, stating in a previous interview with The Guardian: “It might just be the old school part of me but I think there’s still too much debate around VAR.

“Goal-line technology is incredible. Instant decision. Black and white. But it’s very hard to use VAR when you’ve still got opinions on the decisions and the atmosphere is being ruined. You score, there’s an explosion of noise and then it’s VAR. You wait. Is it a goal?

 

 

“I had the experience of a penalty the other week [against Leicester in stoppage time]. That was a new experience as they’re debating if it’s going to be a penalty.

“I think there’s use for it – if we can improve it. But football is a game of human error on the field and in officiating as well. They have a very tough job and I’m all for making their lives easier – but not at the expense of the flow of the game.

“If the VAR took away controversy I’d back it 100%. But we’re still having discussions about VAR. I don’t think many footballers feel differently.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool are reportedly set to launch an approach for Athletic Bilbao’s captain in next summer’s transfer window.

 

Liverpool James Milner

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