The game began with both sides showcasing their attacking prowess, with Liverpool pressing high and West Ham defending resolutely.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 34th minute when Mohamed Salah unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, sending the Anfield faithful into raptures.
However, West Ham refused to back down and mounted a spirited comeback.
Their perseverance paid off when Pablo Fornals equalized just before halftime, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.
As tensions soared in the second period, Liverpool thought they had regained the lead through Diogo Jota, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for a marginal offside.
The decision left Liverpool fans seething, with chants of “VAR, VAR, VAR” echoing around the stadium.
Despite the setback, Liverpool continued to push forward, and their efforts were rewarded when Sadio Mane put them ahead in the 76th minute.
Anfield erupted once again, but their joy was short-lived as controversy struck in stoppage time.
With just minutes remaining, West Ham launched one final attack, culminating in a penalty shout after a collision between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Michail Antonio.
The referee initially waved away appeals for a spot-kick, but VAR intervened once again, prompting a lengthy review.
After what seemed like an eternity, VAR awarded West Ham a penalty, much to the disbelief of Liverpool players and fans.
Replays showed minimal contact between Alexander-Arnold and Antonio, leading to widespread condemnation of the decision.
West Ham’s Declan Rice stepped up to take the penalty and coolly converted, securing a dramatic 2-2 draw for his side.
The final whistle blew shortly after, but the controversy surrounding the VAR decisions dominated post-match discussions.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was visibly frustrated in his post-match interview, condemning the VAR decisions as “horrible” and calling for a review of the system.
Meanwhile, West Ham boss David Moyes hailed his team’s resilience but admitted that the late penalty decision was contentious.
As fans spilled out of Anfield, the sense of injustice lingered in the air, with many venting their frustration on social media. The VAR controversy had once again taken center stage, leaving both sets of supporters questioning the integrity of the game.
