Crystal Palace are denied a penalty against Liverpool as VAR check lasting over THREE MINUTES rules Will Hughes fouled Wataru Endo to spare Virgil van Dijk's blushes

Crystal Palace were denied a penalty against Liverpool in Saturday's match at Selhurst Park after a VAR replay ruled out the spot-kick following a check that lasted over three minutes.

A penalty was initially awarded after Reds captain Virgil van Dijk fouled Odsonne Edouard in the box, with referee Andy Madley immediately blowing his whistle for the foul.

Van Dijk was shown a yellow card after replays showed definite contact had been made by the Liverpool defender on Palace's striker, before a check began to see whether Will Hughes had fouled Wataru Endo in the build-up.

Madley was instructed to review the decision on a pitchside monitor by VAR official John Brooks, with the check then replaying the incident at a variety of different angles and speeds.

It was eventually correctly ruled that Hughes had fouled Endo as he forcefully ran into the back of the Liverpool midfielder to win the ball back and the penalty decision was reversed.

Van Dijk's yellow card was subsequently taken away and the visitors were instead awarded a free-kick with the match still goalless.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand agreed with the eventual decision and insisted Hughes was too aggressive when trying to win possession back for his side. 

'It took a while to get there but in the end it was the right result,' he told TNT Sports.

'Free-kick, aggressive yes and Roy Hodgson will want that, Will Hughes was aggressive but beyond the mark. After seeing it and reviewing it it was the right decision.   

'They [Palace] have had the best opportunities so far, had the best chance with Alisson making a great save. Liverpool need to be a bit more potency upfront to create chances but Palace will be the happier team at the moment,' he said.

However, some Palace supporters were unhappy with the decision that stopped them from having a brilliant chance to open the coring from 12-yards.

One viewer responding on Twitter said: 'So Van Dijk doesn't get a blatant yellow card, Endo doesn't get punished for grabbing the ball before the referee gives a foul, and we don't get a penalty. Imagine my shock when a decision goes Liverpool's way.'

Another added: 'Palace score But VAR thinks that a previous foul was missed by the ref. So no penalty. Personally think this is harsh on Palace.'

A third Palace supporter that felt the decision was harsh, said: 'VAR looking for a foul leading up to goal/penalty is ridiculous. Leave that up to the on field ref to decide.'

Meanwhile, Peter Crouch believes it was the correct decision, but felt that VAR was trying to influence Madley to make the call to deny Palace a penalty.

'At no point did he [Madley] think that's a foul, I think VAR were convincing him it was a foul. I think it got to the right decision in the end.'