Premier League admits error that cost Man Utd three points against Burnley

 VAR decisions had another rough day at the office when the Premier League admitted Manchester United were denied a fair goal against Burnley earlier this month, a call that played into a frustrating afternoon for Erik ten Hag’s side.

The festive period was tough for United, who let several points slip away in games they were expected to win. Burnley’s equaliser in that game was just one of many moments across December and January where results got away from them.

United picked up draws against West Ham, Bournemouth, Wolves, Leeds and Burnley in that stretch. If they’d turned even a couple of those into wins, the table could look very different for them now.

The result also added to the pressure on Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese manager was dismissed on 5 January, less than a day after United drew 1-1 with Leeds.

Now, with the Key Match Incidents panel weighing in on yet another costly mistake against Amorim’s old side, there’s growing frustration over how these decisions have been stacking up against Manchester United this season.

Lisandro Martinez’s disallowed goal against Burnley was ruled a mistake by KMI Panel

It was the first match with Fletcher as caretaker manager, and while Manchester United got a point, the own goal gave Burnley an early advantage.

Benjamin Sesko managed to score twice for United in the second half, but Jaidon Anthony’s late equaliser meant the points were shared. Although it finished level, there was controversy in the first half when Lisandro Martinez thought he’d equalised from a corner, only for the referee to blow for a foul on Kyle Walker before the ball crossed the line.

The panel voted 3-2 that no foul had occurred and that VAR should not have awarded one. However, this opinion was split as they didn’t believe it was clear and obvious enough to call an error by Pawson.

The KMI panel explained via BBC Sport: “The decision not to intervene by VAR was split but supported on the basis it wasn’t a clear and obvious error.”

Manchester United would be in top four if Lisandro Martinez’s goal stood

United are currently fifth with 35 points, but a win over Burnley would see the Red Devils with two more points.

That would have been enough to lift United into the top four, leapfrogging Liverpool with 36 points.

And although they have several games in hand on some of their rivals, they are going to need to start capitalising on those matches soon before they lose touch.

Manchester United’s next match comes against Arsenal this weekend. The Red Devils will be looking for back-to-back wins under Michael Carrick after he beat Fulham in his first game in charge.