Michael Owen tears into VAR over huge mistake in Liverpool's win over Aston Villa

Michael Owen says he is "astonished" that VAR failed to award a penalty in their .

's side extended their lead at the summit to five points courtesy of a goal in either half from and . But the visitors were left feeling hard done by after referee David Coote failed to give a spot-kick.

Villa defender Pau Torres was seemingly hauled to the ground by Conor Bradley - who had earlier - inside the area moments before Salah plundered 's second goal.

Coote was unmoved, though, and his decision stood after he incident was checked by VAR. But Owen is adamant that Villa were robbed of a penalty.

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Speaking post-match on Premier League Productions, he said: "It’s a penalty, you can’t do that. There’s just a blatant pull, Pau Torres is there at the front post, gets dragged out of that area with a shirt pull.

"If the ball goes to the back post and floats over everybody, then I think turn a blind to that, didn’t affect the play. That is a blatant pull. I’m astonished, once that went to VAR, astonished they didn’t give a penalty.

"I think that’s a stonewall penalty, personally. I don’t think there’s any debate in that, he literally pulls him out. It doesn’t matter if he’s pulling him for one minute or one second, he drags him out of it."

Do you agree with Owen?

Villa boss also bemoaned the decision after the game, saying: "I only watched the Pau Torres action. With VAR, for me it was clearly a penalty because he pulled the shirt of Pau Torres.

"I know that in Europe this is a penalty, but here in England they want to use VAR… I don’t know exactly where. In this situation it was clear.

"I always respect the decisions of referees and I accept it, but for me, when I watched it, with VAR it was a clear penalty. Of course, it was a very important moment in the game because if we could have the chance to shoot the penalty, maybe the match would have been different.

"I accept the result and the referee’s decision. I don’t agree and then with the players I am confident we will recover and again find our way for the season."

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