Jurgen Klopp outlines the one aspect of VAR that infuriates him

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Jurgen Klopp says he is generally in favour of using VAR to aid decision-making for referees, but one thing makes it very hard for players on the pitch.

Whenever a marginal offside call is given, the officials are told not to flag straight away unless they are 100% sure of the infringement, so that VAR can rule out a goal that is scored, rather than incorrectly deny a player a chance to go through on goal.

That works in principle, but last night in the UEFA Super Cup – and in Premier League games – assistant referees are waiting for even the more obvious calls, just in case they are wrong. When a player is a few yards offside, there’s no need to play safe.

Via the Liverpool ECHO, Klopp explained: “A lot of things were good tonight, but it’s really difficult how late offsides are being flagged.

“You constantly have the feeling you have defended badly and then the flag comes. Your reaction is you are angry or worried and then the flag comes up.

“It’s brilliant defending but it doesn’t feel like that. Either way, they have to talk about it again and sort it, or we have to get used to it, which is what is more likely to happen.”

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Like Klopp says, the players will need to get used to it quickly. It might be annoying, but it’s not as annoying as when your side loses to an incorrect offside call.

VAR isn’t going anywhere, so the players will just have to adapt.

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