Premier League VAR gameweek two: Every major decision and whether the referees were right

Whatever the sport, being a referee is a thankless task. «My dream is for both coaches to shake my hand after a game and tell me I did a great job,» one ice hockey official once said. «But I know it will never happen.»

Premier League referees and their video-assisted counterparts at Stockley Park are under more scrutiny than any other law enforcers across the world of sport. The rise in disdain for officials is so steep that new league guidelines are supposed to prohibit managers from entering the field of play even after matches — although this has already been disregarded.

After yet another week peppered with decisions that have sparked uproar from crowds and coaches alike, here's a closer look at the most controversial moments from Premier League gameweek two.

Dominik Szoboszlai made an impressive home debut for Liverpool against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon but his theatrics in the penalty box didn't convince everyone.

Half an hour into the contest, Szoboszlai tumbled under a challenge from Joe Rothwell in the corner of Bournemouth's area. Contact was minimal — prompting loud accusations of simulation — but Rothwell's shin does appear to catch Szoboszlai's long leg.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola offered a clear appraisal of the incident: «There is contact but it is a soft, soft contact. It was not an easy game to referee. If there is contact normally they don’t ask for second opinions. It was quite clear.»

Verdict: Right decision

No one would have been surprised to hear Jurgen Klopp describe Alexis Mac Allister's straight red card against Bournemouth as «harsh» and «a mistake». However, even Iraola wasn't sure. «I don't know. In real life, it did not look like a red card.»

Mac Allister went into a 50-50 challenge