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During the Premier League season opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield, a controversial VAR decision sparked debate surrounding a handball incident involving Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.

Early in the match, Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké was through on goal after a miscontrolled ball by Senesi, who appeared to deliberately block the ball with his fingertips to prevent a scoring opportunity. The Liverpool players immediately appealed to referee Anthony Taylor, urging a VAR review. However, VAR upheld the on-field decision of "no handball" and no red card, stating the action was not a "clear handball offence" nor a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), primarily due to the distance from goal.
This judgment was confirmed by the Premier League Match Centre, which classified the scenario as a "possible goal-scoring opportunity, but not an obvious one."

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher criticized the VAR decision, arguing that the review was too quick and that the incident should have been referred back to the on-field referee for a red card. He expressed that if a video review is taken in such handball events denying a clear chance, it typically results in sending the player off.
Public and expert opinions varied, with commentators and former pros noting both the difficulty in applying the handball rule to such moments and a perceived inconsistency in VAR’s use, with some suggesting VAR has become "anti-goals" because of such decisions.

Despite the controversy, Liverpool eventually won the match 4-2, with Ekitiké scoring the opener. The incident remains a point of discussion on VAR’s interpretation of handball and DOGSO in current Premier League officiating.

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