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West Ham's VAR disaster and Brighton’s botched Italian Job

Five English clubs played in European competitions this week and it’s fair to say they didn’t all come away from them smiling. Across all three tiers of European Football these teams represented the Premier League and the image being presented seems to be that outside the traditional ‘big six’ a lot is left to be desired.

Manchester City 3-1 Copenhagen

This would’ve been no surprise to anyone, after winning the first leg, Man City were only ever going to continue that way and ensure their qualification for the quarter finals of the Champions League. A fast start thanks to a superb volley from Manuel Akanji 5 minutes stopped any potential thoughts of a comeback for Copenhagen. After an error from Kamil Grabara as he let Julian Alvarez’s curling effort slip through his hands and into the net the tie was all but done. Despite Copenhagen scoring a well worked goal through Elyonoussi to pull one back, City rounded up the scoring for the night before half time through none other than Erling Haaland. That’s 37 goals in just 41 Champions League appearances for the Norwegian Striker which is unbelievable when you mention that he has another decade worth of Football yet to play. Pep Guardiola is chasing a second successive Champions League trophy for the first time in his career and with that kind of a player it’s hard to bet against them.

Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool

It doesn’t feel fair for Liverpool to be playing in the Europa League with the quality of their side. They are top of the premier League and just like in 2022, they are firmly committed to winning on all fronts. It still wasn’t easy for Jurgen Klopp’s team, with Kelleher being needed for his heroics twice while the score was at just one nil to the away side. Darwin Nunez impressed yet again this season by scoring a brace in Prague. With a long range dipping effort and a perfectly executed half volley across goal, he really is starting to shine on Merseyside. Despite a nervy start to the second half as Conor Bradley’s first touch was putting the ball into his own net, the nerves of Liverpool never wavered and soon their three goal lead was restored through a deflected effort from Luis Diaz. Mohamed Salah couldn’t resist getting in on the act after being subbed on as he wrapped up the scoring on the night giving Liverpool a comfortable 5-1 scoreline going into the second leg. Crazier things may have happened in Football, but Klopp’s men should be safe to make it into the quarter final draw.

Roma 4-0 Brighton

After winning their group Brighton fans would’ve been in dreamland. Well after the long wait for the round of 16 it’s fair to say they’ve been brought back down to Earth. Four goals conceded away from home with no goals scored in a first leg is as bad as it gets in Europe. The Seagulls now face the impossible challenge of overturning that deficit at the Amex in a week’s time. After Dybala was played onside by Tariq Lamptey, the Argentine’s goal was given thanks to a VAR review and Brighton’s night only got worse. Lewis Dunk, the Brighton hero and captain, was ultimately at fault for Roma’s second. Instead of holding the line with his back four, Dunk found himself stuck with Lukaku who dragged him out of position before robbing him of possession and doubling the lead for I Giallorossi. Steele’s heroics to keep the score relatively low weren’t enough as Mancini’s and Cristante’s headers in the second half all but sealed Brighton’s fate in the Europa League. De Zerbi was unimpressed after the match as he said; “I know we played 20% less than our potential.” His side must score at least four next week to save their European dream as there are no guarantees regarding where Brighton finish this season in the Premier League.

Ajax 0-0 Aston Villa

Usually you would say that drawing the first leg away is a good result but with a red card for Ezri Konsa, there will be a sour taste in the mouths of Villa fans. It wasn’t a pretty watch and not the ending they would’ve wanted either. Villa failed to create anything particularly of note throughout the match thanks to a solid defensive performance from Ajax. Konsa was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for pulling former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom down. There’s an argument that he could’ve received a straight red card for the action but villa fans will be pleased to see just a one match suspension for their number four. Unai Emery wasn’t pleased with the way the game turned out as he said after the match; “We didn’t play well. We didn’t control the game.” Emery’s side will need a much improved performance next week if they are to make it into the next round but with their fans behind them at Villa Park they still have a very good chance of getting past the Dutch giants.

Freiburg 1-0 West Ham

West Ham have it all to do at the London stadium as they travelled to Germany and left with defeat. They were close to taking the lead through Lucas Paqueta but the Brazilian failed to time his jump as his close-range header didn’t trouble Atubolu in goal. Bowen’s curling effort forced the keeper into a save and was the closest the Hammer’s got to scoring on the night, as Michael Gregoritsch turned home after being found unmarked in the box. West Ham continued to fight and believed they should’ve come home with something as they had a late claim for a penalty. Despite a long review of a handball by Noah Weißhaupt after a failed clearance bounce up, hitting his hand, the referee decided to not give West Ham a spot kick and quickly blew for full-time. David Moyes wasn’t pleased at all with the referee’s decision as he said after the match; “I think it’s a penalty… With UEFA, if anything hits your arms they tend to give penalty kicks.” Moyes must now remind his squad of the job they have to do next week if they are to remain in this season’s Europa League and ensure that decision doesn’t cost them.