VAR BETTER IF EX-PROFESSIONALS DECIDE IN A TARKOWSKI MOMENT

HAVING done a couple of speaking engagements with Mike Dean, there might be an element of bias here, but he is an excellent analyst on television.

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He was not everyone's cup of tea when refereeing, but having spoken to him at length about the game, his expertise in an official capacity is missed.

Instead, Dean (below) is on Sky Sports, giving his views on contentious decisions.

To be frank, there was nothing too contentious about the decision not to dismiss James Tarkowski... it was just blatantly wrong.

No one could seriously argue that referee Sam Barrott or Paul Tierney, on VAR duty, got it right at Anfield after Tarkowski's challenge.

But there was an irony listening to Dean say he was "astounded" by the decision.

The irony is that Dean tried the VAR job and lasted two months.

"I used to be petrified sitting in the [VAR] chair," he later said. He hated it. It is difficult.