Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was denied a penalty against Tottenham by a 'horrendous' refereeing decision that should have been influenced by VAR, Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher have insisted.
Dangerman Jota appeared to be sandwiched by Emerson Royal and Davinson Sanchez two minutes after his first-half equaliser made it 1-1 in the Premier League showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Emerson's barge in the back sent Jota sprawling on the turf, only for referee Paul Tierney to enrage Reds boss Jurgen Klopp by taking no action and receiving no VAR check on the challenge.
Furious Klopp was then booked by Tierney, who he spoke to at the interval and later said has 'a problem with me'.
Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp ranted to Sky Sports: 'Look at the position of the referee – surely he can see that
'It is a horrendous decision, he just barges him. At least get some opinion from VAR. It is such a bad decision.
'There is not a fan of football or an ex-player who would say that is not a penalty. It is a joke of a decision.'
On an eventful afternoon for the official, Tierney caused controversy by failing to dismiss Tottenham talisman Harry Kane for a wild early lunge on Andrew Robertson.
Tierney then sent off Roberton in the 76th minute for a hack at Sanchez, leaving Klopp to bemoan what he believed was inconsistent refereeing.
After watching Klopp protest, Reds stalwart Jamie Carragher said: 'Yes, you cannot condone speaking to a referee – but managers are emotional.
'We want managers to be honest and emotional and the decisions that go against Liverpool – it was a blatant penalty.
"We were frustrated with VAR a year or two ago. We are OK with it at the moment but we have gone right the other way.
'Last season, a touch on the ankle was a decision – but now we are thinking "what is the point of VAR with penalties?"
'It might have happened at 100 miles an hour but the whole point of VAR is to help the referee. This is the whole point of bringing VAR in.
'The [concept of a] clear and obvious [officiating error] is a real problem because they don't want to re-referee games. VAR helps referees on big situations and that was a big one.'
Kane scored an early opener before Jota drew Liverpool level ten minutes before the break. Andrew Robertson then put the visitors ahead in the 69th minute, only for Son Heung-min to secure a 2-2 draw by striking five minutes later.