West Brom stuns Liverpool in VAR-laced FA Cup tie

Jay Rodriguez's quick-trigger brace inspired West Brom to a surprising 3-2 win over Liverpool on Saturday, but it was the use of the Video Assistant Referee that dominated the conversation.

Alan Pardew's side booked a spot in the FA Cup's round of 16 despite conceding just five minutes into the encounter. Roberto Firmino looped a shot up and above a helpless Ben Foster to put the Reds in as good a position as they could expect at Anfield.

Rodriguez responded with two smart tallies in quick succession, lacing a hard shot into Simon Mignolet's top corner to level matters before slipping through Liverpool's sleepy defence to give West Brom a 2-1 lead.

Craig Dawson's header in the 18th minute would have made it 3-1 had VAR - located nearly 100 miles away in a London booth - not ruled Gareth Barry to be in an offside position.

Controversy reigned when Jake Livermore pulled on Mohamed Salah's shoulder in the penalty area. Minutes passed as Pawson became the first English referee to view a replay behind the touchline, causing a hush among the spectators at Anfield. The penalty was ultimately awarded, but Firmino's effort hit the crossbar.

VAR was consulted for a third time in first-half stoppage time, when Dawson's effort took a deflection off Joel Matip. The review - the quickest of the trio - confirmed the goal and restored West Brom's 3-1 advantage.

Salah's 78th-minute strike - his 25th goal in 32 appearances since joining Liverpool from Roma - was mere consolation.

Liverpool has now stumbled in the fourth round of the FA Cup in each of the past three seasons under Jurgen Klopp.