Liverpool Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher Survives Double VAR Check For Red Card

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher came very close to being sent off in Sunday's FA Cup clash with Cardiff City but the VAR cleared him on two counts.

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher came very close to being sent off in Sunday's FA Cup clash with Cardiff City.

With the score tied a 0-0 early in the second half, 23-year-old Kelleher came sprinting out of his goal to try to beat Cardiff's Mark Harris to the ball.

Harris got the ball though and Kelleher got Harris. Anfield held its breath as referee Andy Madley put his hand in his pocket.

Out came a yellow card but that was not the end of the drama. Next came TWO reviews by the Video Assistant Referee.

First the VAR reviewed the incident to make sure Kelleher has not denied Cardiff a goalscoring opportunity. Apparently he had not.

Caoimhin Kelleher has been starting for Liverpool while Alisson Becker is on international duty :: IMAGO/NurPhoto

Then it was checked to see if Kelleher should have be sent off for serious foul play, such was the height of his foot when it made contact with Harris.

Again the VAR concluded that referee Madley had not made a clear and obvious error in his decision to keep Kelleher on the field.

However, one expects that had Maldey shown Kelleher a red instead of yellow, VAR would not have advised him to change that decision either.

📸 - Kelleher takes down Harris and there was a VAR check for a possible red card, but he received a yellow instead.. pic.twitter.com/m30aV0nIsT

— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) February 6, 2022

It was the second time in just over a week that a Liverpool goalkeeper had received a double boost from a VAR regarding possible red cards.

Reds stopper Alisson Becker, while on international duty with Brazil, was sent off twice during a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. But on both occasions the VAR rode to his rescue and he was able to complete the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Liverpool went on to beat Cardiff and they will host Norwich City in the round of 16.