Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?

After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

In this week's VAR Review: Should Brighton & Hove Albion's penalty have stood against Arsenal? Should Newcastle United's first goal at Tottenham Hotspur have been disallowed for handball? And why did Matthijs de Ligt concede a penalty?

Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Possible penalty overturn: Foul by Saliba on Pedro

What happened: João Pedro picked up a loose ball inside the penalty area in the 59th minute of the game. The Brighton player's first touch lifted the ball, which rolled up his chest and he nodded it forward. William Saliba accidentally headed the attacker in trying to make a challenge. After a brief pause, referee Anthony Taylor pointed for a penalty. It was checked by the VAR, Darren England. (watch here)

VAR decision: Penalty stands, scored by Pedro.

PENALTY TO BRIGHTON. Joao Pedro levels it from the spot after William Saliba's foul in the box!

NBC & Peacock | #BHAARS pic.twitter.com/2UOfBdSOqa

NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 4, 2025

VAR review: Much of the discourse centered around a lack of examples of penalties awarded in similar situations, yet there are key factors which mean it's not so straightforward.

It wasn't an aerial ball where two jumping players had the legitimate right to challenge and a clash of heads was an unfortunate result. Arsenal fans have questioned a decision from last season, when Nottingham Forest's Joe Worrall appeared to head into Kai Havertz at the near post on a corner. No penalty was awarded, but that was an example of two players challenging for a delivery with a genuine clash of heads.

Pedro having taken possession of the ball was important. Granted, Pedro's first touch was poor, meaning the ball ended up at head height. Saliba had the right to challenge, but he was late after the play by Pedro and made clear contact with the opponent's head. The ball did brush Saliba's head; this was a result of Pedro's play -- indeed, such a small brush of the ball is unlikely to be considered a factor especially when it has come after a controlled play by the opponent.

The alternative argument says that a defender doesn't usually get penalised when sliding in to make a challenge, blocking a pass or shot and then colliding with the other player. But upper-body contact does get viewed differently to lower body.

Earlier on Saturday, Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon wasn't awarded a penalty after a collision with Dejan Kulusevski, which resulted with the Tottenham Hotspur player's shoulder connecting with his head (watch here). That has been judged as a coming together, rather than a foul from a challenge being made, but you feel that wouldn't have been overturned either had the referee given a spot kick. Earlier this season, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk connected with Gordon in similar fashion, and the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel said the VAR was correct not to get involved and advise a penalty -- you'd imagine the same will apply here.

Verdict: There's very little comment within refereeing circles that this was the incorrect outcome, so it's not surprising that the VAR check was swift. Once awarded, and with Pedro having played the ball, there was no chance of it being overturned.

Arsenal fans will no doubt feel aggrieved that they have been on the wrong end of another "unique" situation, like the second yellows for delaying the restart for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard this season, or the quick double yellow for Gabriel Martinelli in February 2022.

Possible penalty: Challenge by O'Riley on Gabriel

What happened: Arsenal won a corner in the 40th minute. As Rice prepared to deliver, Matt O'Riley was tussling with Gabriel Magalhães and the Arsenal player went to the ground. Gabriel Jesus headed over from Rice's corner, but was there a case for a penalty? (watch here)

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: A very simple one to look at -- because the ball wasn't in play when the possible foul on Gabriel took place. Therefore, a penalty isn't possible and the VAR has no role.

Verdict: It would have been one for the VAR to look at had the ball been in play, as O'Riley does make lower-body contact as the two players tussle for the ball. That said, it's unlikely to have been seen as a clear and obvious error for VAR to intervene.

Liverpool 2-2 Man United

Possible penalty: Handball by De Ligt

What happened: A ball was delivered into the Manchester United area in the 67th minute. Alexis Mac Allister attempted to flick a header toward goal, and the ball hit Matthijs de Ligt. Liverpool's players strongly appealed for a penalty for handball, but referee Michael Oliver waved play on. The next time the ball went of play the VAR, Chris Kavanagh, told the referee to go to the pitchside monitor to review a possible spot kick. (watch here)

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Mohamed Salah.

VAR review: There'd only been two VAR penalties for handball in the Premier League this season, and both involved the arm being way out from the body or above the head (Matty Cash, Tyler Adams).

Proximity could be a factor, but the VAR will still ask if there's any justifiable reason for the defender to have his arm up, and De Ligt was in a standing position and not stretching for a block.

United fans pointed to a penalty they didn't get against Spurs last season when Cristian Romero stopped a shot with his arm. Proximity was cited as a factor in that case, but just as important was that Romero was maneuvering his body to make a block, meaning his arms will naturally come up.

De Ligt was on a yellow card, but the law was changed last summer and a player should now be booked only in this situation if it's a deliberate handball.

Verdict: Comparing De Ligt and Romero was valid, but Sunday's incident is a stonewall penalty and should always lead to a VAR intervention.

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich

Possible red card: DOGSO by Davis on Wilson

What happened: Harry Wilson looked to be through on goal in the 27th minute when he was brought down by Leif Davis. Referee Darren Bond produced the yellow card, but was there a case for a red for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)?

VAR decision: No red card.

VAR review: Last month, Wilson was involved in a DOGSO situation at Liverpool which resulted in Andrew Robertson being sent off -- you could say this was a clearer goal-scoring opportunity, yet it resulted only in a yellow card.

As usual, much rests with the on-field decision and while comparisons will be made with the situation at Anfield, there's another from earlier in the season which is more suitable.

In November, Ian Maatsen was cautioned after bringing down Ismaïla Sarr, with the VAR (Alex Chilowicz) supporting that outcome. However, the KMI panel voted 3-2 that it should have been upgraded to a red through review.

Verdict: Both Wilson and Sarr are ahead of the defender, around 10 yards outside the area with open space in front of them. The only real difference is that Wilson's touch takes the ball slightly to the left, which gives Dara O'Shea the possibility of covering. The VAR, Paul Tierney, decided a yellow was acceptable -- but if a red card had been shown there wouldn't have been an intervention either.

In the Villa case, Chilowicz also indicated there was a chance the defender would have got across, but the KMI panel said that "Sarr is in control, touches the ball towards the goal and would have had an obvious opportunity to have a shot on goal."

It's a borderline call, but O'Shea is just about close enough and the run of the ball makes no intervention the right call.

Possible penalty: Challenge by Morsy on Wilson

What happened: Wilson broke into the area in the 65th minute and went to ground under a challenge from Sam Morsy. Referee Bond waved away the penalty appeals.

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Raúl Jiménez.

VAR review: This is exactly what VAR was brought in for, to correct a very clear error where the referee may have been unsighted.

Emile Smith Rowe ran across the referee's sight line at the point Morsy makes the foul contact on Wilson, and it's entirely possible he couldn't see it and thought the Fulham player had clipped his own heels. And that's where the VAR comes in.

The reaction of Wilson was completely unacceptable, gesturing with his arms and appearing to call the referee a "cheat." That he escaped without even a booking is remarkable, and the nature of complaints could and maybe should have resulted in a red card. Indeed, Fulham were able to get into the position to win the penalty only because the referee had played a good advantage on a foul seconds earlier.

Verdict: An easy VAR intervention for Tierney, but Wilson's behaviour should have been sanctioned. Being unhappy with a referee's decision, even if it's wrong, doesn't excuse such abuse of officials.

Possible penalty overturn: Foul by Castagne on Delap

What happened: Just seconds later Ipswich Town were awarded a penalty for Timothy Castagne's challenge on Liam Delap. This time the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

VAR decision: Penalty stands.

VAR review: It's a soft penalty, but when it has been given on field and there's clear low-body contact from a kicking motion there's no realistic prospect of an overturn.

Verdict: You can argue that allowing penalties to stand when a player has made the most of a challenge only encourages such theatrics -- especially as Delap also won a penalty in dubious circumstances against Chelsea last week.

It's highly unlikely this would have been a spot kick had Bond not awarded it himself, and that will always be the inconsistency with this system of VAR.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Possible handball: Joelinton before Gordon goal

What happened: Newcastle equalised in the sixth minute when Anthony Gordon scored, but was there a case for handball in the buildup against Joelinton?

VAR decision: Goal stands.

VAR review: Lucas Bergvall had attempted to play the ball past Joelinton, but it hit the Newcastle attacker's arm and dropped kindly for Bruno Guimarães to provide the assist for Gordon.

When the law was first changed, any accidental handball by an attacker in the phase leading to a goal was deemed an automatic offence. It meant goals were being ruled out for innocuous situations in the buildup.

The law was then tweaked to say only the goal scorer or the player creating the goal could be punished. Even that proved to be too harsh, and after one season it changed to what we have now -- only the goal scorer can be penalised for accidental attacking handball before a goal.

Verdict: Joelinton had his arm in an expected position for his movement, close to his side, and he didn't move it toward the ball. While you might see a referee give a handball in this kind of situation, on video review there's no reason in law to disallow the goal. That Newcastle effectively gained an advantage, with Guimarães getting possession in a dangerous position, isn't a consideration.

Southampton 0-5 Brentford

Possible foul: Wissa challenge on Bednarek before Van den Berg goal

What happened: Sepp van den Berg headed Brentford into a two-goal lead in the 53rd minute on a corner. But as the players celebrated, the VAR, Craig Pawson, was looking at a potential foul.

VAR decision: Goal disallowed.

VAR review: Holding alone doesn't determine a VAR intervention, it must also be judged that Bednarek would have a genuine chance of challenging for the ball, and potentially stopping Van den Berg from scoring.

It's a fair argument that Jan Bednarek may have been able to get to Van den Berg, but it's controversial because the central defender threw himself to the ground and that did not seem commensurate with the level of holding by Yoane Wissa.

What really cost Wissa was having both arms around the waist of Bednarek, which is a non-footballing action, and on balance that will have persuaded the VAR to intervene.

Verdict: It's perhaps a harsh VAR intervention, especially because there's plenty of examples of holding on set pieces which appears to be more impactful that haven't led to a VAR intervention. The KMI panel will no doubt say this was a correct intervention, but giving the goal feels an outcome more in keeping with other such calls.

It's the first goal to be ruled out through VAR for holding by an attacker this season.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

Possible penalty: Challenge by Mitchell on Neto

What happened: Pedro Neto appealed for a penalty in the 62nd minute following a challenge by Tyrick Mitchell. Referee Tim Robinson signalled for play to continue and it was checked by the VAR, Paul Tierney.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: This is a close call, and looking at replays from various angles gives different perspectives on whether or not Mitchell touched the ball or simply fouled Neto.

From the front camera angle, it looks like Mitchell didn't get to the ball; from the reverse, it seems he may have.

Verdict: There's no clear, definitive evidence from the replays that Neto alone got to the ball, and was fouled by Mitchell. The Crystal Palace player makes contact with the opponent in the process of sliding in to touch the ball, but it's impossible to say there was a clear and obvious error and a spot kick was missed. The VAR shouldn't intervene in such cases.

Bournemouth 1-0 Everton

Possible penalty: Mangala challenge on Ouattara

What happened: AFC Bournemouth won a corner in the 23rd minute. James Tarkowski made a poor clearance, and as Dango Ouattara moved to collect the loose ball he was kicked by Orel Mangala. Referee John Brooks signalled for play to continue and it was checked by the VAR, Matt Donohue.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: The VAR decided that Ouattara had gone into the space owned by Mangala, but the Bournemouth player got to the ball first and was prevented from continuing in possession by a kick from the Everton player.

Verdict: This may well go down as a missed VAR intervention, as Mangala should have been aware of an opponent around him and had a responsibility for the way he tried to play the ball. The Everton player kicks the Bournemouth attacker and it should have been a penalty.

Some factual parts of this article include information provided by the Premier League and PGMOL.

We're back! The Christmas/New Year period brought us plenty of good soccer to dissect, with the first weekend of 2025 no different when it came to talking points. Despite having a chance to extend their lead atop the Premier League, Liverpool had to settle for a spirited home draw against a Man United side that is finally showing signs of a turnaround under Ruben Amorim. (The Reds also picked a bad time for their most tired, uninspired performance of the season.)

In Spain, Real Madrid surged to the top of LaLiga with a win over troubled Valencia before heading off to Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa de España, while Barcelona welcomed back a key player from a long-term injury in their Copa del Rey win. The German Bundesliga is still on winter break, but Italy's Serie A gave us a captivating Rome derby in which struggling Roma toppled their high-flying Lazio rivals in the game of the weekend. Elsewhere, there were talking points galore for Manchester City, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Let's get to it. Here are musings and reactions to the most memorable moments of the weekend.

Liverpool at their worst, Man United at their best ... and it's still a draw as Arne Slot's team dominate the expected goals

Maybe it shouldn't be surprising that the above is true, given that Liverpool have twice as many points in the Premier League (and, still, a game in hand) and have lost as many games in the past year (six) as United lost in December alone. On a day when the midfield wasn't dominant, when the back line showed plenty of holes and when the forward went AWOL for long stretches, Liverpool still put together an xG of 2.82 (to United's 1.05) in a 2-2 draw.

Of course, performance matters -- not just production -- and Slot will be reflecting on what went wrong on Sunday. The fact that he still brought on Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota for Luis Díaz and Curtis Jones after Cody Gakpo put them 2-1 up speaks volumes. Defending the lead was the last thing on his mind: He wanted to turn the game (and the performance) around.

For the first hour or so, Liverpool looked a little flat and you wonder if that isn't partly down to some players possibly feeling fatigued. Virgil Van Dijk has played every minute of every game in the Premier League and Champions League, while Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah have started every game in those two competitions. Slot rotates less than other managers, and that may need to change going forward if they are to stay sharp.

That doesn't explain their defensive frailties, but then they've always been there. Andrew Robertson was late on Amad Diallo's goal, but he's been slowing down this season. Trent Alexander-Arnold's deficiencies off the ball are nothing new and, no, they have nothing to do with his contractual issues. He simply has lapses and if you're going to have him in your lineup for what he gives you on the attacking end -- and let's face it, other than Salah, few on this team are as good at creating something from nothing as Alexander-Arnold -- you need to make tactical accommodations. In the 4-2-3-1 setup, he's simply more exposed, especially with a half-fit Ibrahima Konaté at the back, which is why we might see Slot tweaking the system to mask his weaknesses. (Or not: There's also an argument that there's no point switching things up if he's going to be out of there in a few months.)

Of Liverpool's shortcomings Sunday, the only one that really ought to be a concern is the aforementioned lack of intensity and legginess. That could mean making moves in the January window.

As for United, this should be a big confidence boost and not just because, without that late Christmas gift of a penalty from Matthijs De Ligt (shades of his Juventus days) they would have won this game. Manuel Ugarte turned in his best performance yet in a United shirt, Diogo Dalot was a constant thorn in Liverpool's flank and Amad Diallo showed just why he might be United's most intelligent player.

The fact that Amorim has six defeats in 12 games in charge in all competitions, whereas Erik Ten Hag had four in 14 when he was sacked, is largely irrelevant. Amorim is building and this performance shows what he can do when he actually has time to prepare for a game. Admittedly, it's easier to plan for an opponent like Liverpool where you know they will be taking the game to you (and not the other way around) and truer tests will come against other opponents. But the pieces are starting to fall into place.

Cast your mind back to when Amorim was appointed and everybody wondered about his 3-4-2-1 system and which players might fit where and how many signings they'd need to make to put together an Amorim-style starting XI. I'd argue that we got many of the answers we're looking for.

André Onana works as a ball-playing keeper and the back three could use some depth, but otherwise, they're getting the job done (if you swap in Leny Yoro). The Kobbie Mainoo-Ugarte partnership worked. Bruno Fernandes isn't going anywhere and Diallo looks a natural. Between Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, you have two competent wingbacks, and Rasmus Hojlund is still developing.

In terms of the starting lineup, you'd think maybe an alternative wide option -- at Sporting, he generally had one traditional wing-back and one more attacking player wide -- and perhaps a center-forward to challenge or upgrade Hojlund. And then, of course, you need to add depth. But as far as putting together an XI that fits what he wants to do, United aren't far away. Now it's a question of continuing to learn the system.

The latter may be the most important thing United need to do to close the gap on Liverpool. It's going to be tough, because Sunday showed how big it still is.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's redemption tale marks the Rome derby

Rome is different to most places, and AS Roma are different to most clubs. The intensity of the city and the team is wearying; the shirt is that much heavier if you're Roma born and bred like Lorenzo Pellegrini, the current captain, who joined as an 11-year-old and spent his entire career there, apart from two seasons as Sassuolo.

You're venerated, sure, but when things go wrong, you can also be scapegoated by a hugely demanding fan base. Especially when, like Pellegrini, you don't have the charisma of some of the captains who came before you, like Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti. And especially when the team hasn't been punching its weight for the past six months, you've lost your form and you're seen as part of the problem, not part of the solution.

That's why it had been six weeks since Pellegrini (despite being fit) had started a Serie A game. And that's why Roma boss Claudio Ranieri had told the media he wouldn't start the derby. ("Not in the right frame of mind.") The stakes were just too high.

But then, the old fox Ranieri wasn't being straight because Pellegrini did start and even scored a gorgeous goal, while working his backside off in the 2-0 Roma win.

After the win, Pellegrini enjoyed the adulation of the crowd. The hometown hero had been redeemed, and Ranieri had worked one of his psychological masterstrokes. (Either that or it's his derby hex over Lazio: played five, won five in his three stints as Roma boss.)

That said, it was far from comfortable. Roma went 2-0 up inside of 20 minutes, but failed to impose themselves as most of the rest of the game was one-way traffic, with Lazio enjoying 76% possession after the break and the Giallorossi in siege mode.

Look past the score and let it be a reminder that Lazio remain a far better side right now. But if you're a Roma fan, enjoy the mended bridges with your captain.

Ange Postecoglou can't have it both ways

I get that Ange Postecoglou is angry. His Tottenham side has taken one point from the past four games and sits closer to relegation than to European qualification in the table. He's had to deal with a frightening string of injuries, and his high-risk/high-reward style of play -- the sort that gets described as "brave" when they win and "naive" when they lose -- has plenty of critics.

On Saturday, against a resurgent Newcastle (six wins in a row) with an "on fire" Alexander Isak (nine goals in his past seven outings) they took the lead, hit the woodwork and ended up losing at home as a string of refereeing decisions went against them.

I'd be angry too, but if you're going to be angry, you need to speak up and be clear. Instead, he said: "On any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. ... I'm as angry as I've ever been that the players were denied their right rewards for a fantastic performance."

The problem is that this is the same Postecoglou who doesn't like VAR and says, "Decisions are decisions: you either accept it or you don't." And that he doesn't like the "forensic study of every decision."

Fair enough, but the decision that most incensed him -- Joelinton's handball in the build-up to Newcastle's equalizer -- needed just that: forensic analysis to establish if it was punishable, and if it led directly to the goal. (For the record, I thought it was and the goal should have been disallowed.)

You can't have it both ways. You can't preach old-school, no VAR, refs-are-human-too-so-live-with-it fare, and then get grumpy when you don't get the calls.

As for the game itself, had decisions gone Tottenham's way -- it wasn't just the Joelinton handball, Dan Burn could have been sent off and there was a Joelinton head-butt in there too -- they could have won the game, sure, but equally, Newcastle put together an xG of 2.45 (to 0.94). It wasn't exactly a smash-and-grab for the visiting team.

Quick hits

10. Napoli keep rolling as David Neres has some asking "Khvicha who?" OK, that's excessive. Napoli are a better side with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (who was unavailable in the 3-0 away win at Fiorentina, due to injury, not contractual reasons). But the production Antonio Conte is getting from Neres -- whose career has been more lows than highs, despite his unquestioned talent -- is astounding and give the club leverage over Kvaratskhelia. With his other first-choice winger (Matteo Politano) also out, Conte also reinvented left-back Leonardo Spinazzola (rumoured to be moving in January) as a wide forward. Conte may have his faults, but when it comes to coaching and finding solutions, he's among the best, which is why Napoli are top of Serie A.

9. Real Madrid are a microcosm of themselves in turbulent win at Valencia: Miracles from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, missed penalties (this time it's Jude Bellingham), a Kylian Mbappé disallowed goal, a Vinícius red card and a rousing Luka Modric-fueled comeback in the last five minutes: just your average Madrid game these days. The difference is that following a lackluster first half, Carlo Ancelotti's side dominated after the break against a fired-up Valencia side and fully deserved the three points. The only thing to spoil it was Vinicius' red card. A lot of it was down to Stole Dimitrievski's shenanigans, falling to the ground theatrically after Vinicius pushed him in the neck, but Vini didn't help himself, particularly after being given his marching orders. (Antonio Rüdiger appeared to physically take him off the pitch.) Sure, he plays on emotion, but this was the case of an opponent suckering him into a red card and a pedantic VAR. You expect more from him.

8. You wouldn't inflict Peter Lim on your worst enemies, let alone long-suffering Valencia fans: Before the Real Madrid game, there were wide-ranging protests against absentee owner Peter Lim, some of which had to be quelled by law enforcement. Lim isn't the reason Valencia are in dire financial straits -- theirs is a long-running story of mismanagement -- but he's a case study in bad owners. After an initial flurry of interest in the club, followed by fan backlash when things didn't work out, he seemingly withdrew in a pique of anger. His neglect is palpable. Rather than selling the club, it feels as if he'd rather see it flounder and drive itself into the ground, mainly because he's rich enough not to care.

7. Is Leon Bailey what Aston Villa have been missing: After taking Aston Villa to fourth place (and the Europa Conference League semifinals) last season, this year was always going to be uphill for Unai Emery, what with the added stress of the Champions League and a squad that isn't substantially bigger than last year (Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Jaden Philogene in, Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz, Álex Moreno, Nicolò Zaniolo and Clément Lenglet out). Missing too have been Leon Bailey's goals. Last year he had 10 in the league alone (14 overall), all of them from open play. The winner he scored Saturday in the 2-1 win over Leicester was his first of the campaign. Villa's squad is stretched and players will understandably have ups and downs. But if Bailey can find his "ups" in the latter half of the season -- as some of his teammates might decline -- Villa will be in the mix for a Champions League spot. And with his contract up in June (though the club have an option to extend it by a year), he'll be helping himself too.

6. Paris Saint-Germain down Monaco at home in French Super Cup: Or, as they call it, the "Trophee des Champions." And yes, I use the term "home" lightly, but aptly, because it was in Doha, Qatar. (I'm glad they're getting some use out of those stadiums, though it's weird that it was played at Stadium 974, the one made out of shipping containers that was supposed to be disassembled after the World Cup only to still be there over two years later.) PSG had the upper hand for most of the game and should have put things to bed earlier against a lacklustre Monaco. Instead, they had to wait for injury time and Ousmane Dembélé's winner. Dembele again played at centre-forward, with Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos on the bench. I've given up on trying to figure out Luis Enrique, but Dembele is up to double figures in goals on the season and I guess those are centre-forward numbers.

5. Can we agree that Enzo Maresca was right and Chelsea aren't ready? Being ready isn't just about outplaying the opposition, but about getting the details right. This weekend's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace highlighted the fine margins. Against an opponent who are better than their league position suggests (Palace lost just once since early November), Chelsea can pinpoint three moments that went against them: the two Nico Jackson misses (one of them which he took, weirdly, with the outside of his boot) and Cole Palmer giving the ball away (or being needlessly played into trouble, take your pick) ahead of the Palace equalizer. It's these margins that separate title contenders from young teams that are still developing. Chelsea are the latter.

4. Good and (self-inflicted) bad for Barcelona after cup win: It's the Barcelona way these days, as there's always a yang for every yin. The good news is that Ronald Araújo played 90 minutes in the 4-0 win at fourth-tier Barbastro in the Copa del Rey. The game itself -- beyond some stat-padding for Robert Lewandowski, who took his seasonal total to 25 -- was otherwise unremarkable, but the return of Araujo, out since his injury in the Copa America last July, is big. If they're going to mount a title challenge in the second half of the campaign, they can't rely solely on Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez. The bad, unsurprisingly, is the Dani Olmo situation after Barcelona's third appeal to re-register him was rejected. It's pretty simple: There are rules and there are deadlines, and they're not being respected. Barca say they're going to court as they see the denial as a technicality. Fine. But the irony of all this is that they risk losing a player who cost them a fortune and who they didn't really need to begin with.

3. Depleted Arsenal aren't quite the same thing, but Mikel Arteta is right to be angry: Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are Arsenal's three biggest attacking threats and when they take the pitch without all three (though Odegaard did play the last half hour), it's not going to be quite the same thing. Brighton may be winless in eight games after this weekend's 1-1 draw, but they're a tough out and an awkward opponent and, after taking the lead through Ethan Nwaneri (fine performance, but he's a totally different player from Saka), they were on the back foot for much of the second half. Still, the result would end up hinging on the penalty, awarded when William Saliba appeared to mistime his header and instead struck Joao Pedro in the face with his head. The dynamic of the incident was odd, and odder still was the fact that VAR showed Saliba also made contact with the ball. Arteta was furious, saying he'd "never seen a penalty like this." That makes two of us (probably more). I suppose if you apply a very twisted logic and you treat an attempted header like an attempted clearance with your boot -- at the same time ignoring the fact that Saliba makes contact -- you can sort of see the reasoning behind the decision... but man, that was weird.

2. Sérgio Conceição gets shot at trophy right away after replacing Paulo Fonseca: It's a Milan derby on Monday night in the Italian Super Cup (played -- why not? -- in Saudi Arabia yet again) and for the new Rossoneri boss, it's a chance at immediate silverware. At least, that's the line peddled. I seriously doubt any Milan fan will judge Conceicao or the decision to ditch Fonseca based on what happens in the Super Cup. Most see it for what it is: a manufactured "final four" that generates Saudi revenue and not much else. Milan weren't great in his first outing -- the comeback win against Juventus -- and they'll need to step it up against Inter. The odd thing about the Conceicao choice is that his style of football feels like a departure from what they tried to do under Fonseca. With the shadow of superagent Jorge Mendes luring in the background, you hope it doesn't also mean a shift away from the philosophy of pushing younger players and aggressive front-foot football too.

1. Back-to-back wins for Man City, but Pep Guardiola is still grumpy (and you can see why): Guardiola could lie to himself (and to us) and talk about how consecutive victories mean they're now just three points from third place, Savinho had turned the corner, Erling Haaland was scoring again and normal service had resumed in the 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday. Instead, he talked about how the performance was "not good," how they're not composed and how they're not working the way they should. He's right. West Ham could have been a couple goals up early (Rúben Dias' absence can't be an alibi for how poor the defending is), Savinho's opener was deflected and they were again far too vulnerable in transition. Facing reality, which is what he's doing, is the first step in fixing things.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a setback in his rehab from his torn Achilles tendon that will extend his recovery process, general manager Andrew Berry announced Monday.

Berry said the setback was discovered during an end-of-season physical and that Watson, who has been splitting time between Cleveland and Miami for his rehab, reported some discomfort. Berry added that it was too early to give a timeline for the quarterback's recovery and that the team would know in the coming days and weeks if another surgery is needed.

Berry said the 29-year-old Watson's setback would not significantly impact the team's outlook at the quarterback position this offseason. The Browns are expected to look to free agency to upgrade a quarterback room that threw the most interceptions (23) in the NFL this season. And with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, Cleveland is in position to take one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's class.

"That room, it will look different next year," Berry said.

The only other quarterback under contract for the 2025 season is 2023 fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who struggled in two starts this season. Jameis Winston, who started seven games before being benched, is an unrestricted free agent. Bailey Zappe, who became the 40th quarterback to start for the Browns since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999, is a restricted free agent.

"It probably goes without saying that to reach that level of consistency, we have to have consistent availability and consistent performance at the QB position, as well," Berry said. "And that's something that's been elusive for us for the past couple seasons. And that's something that we have to be able to fix and remedy."

Watson tore his right Achilles tendon Oct. 20, marking the second straight year his season ended because of injury. He missed the final eight games of the 2023 season after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder. He has started only 19 games since the Browns traded three first-round picks and gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million before the 2022 season. The Browns were 1-6 in games Watson started in 2024, and he posted the lowest QBR in the NFL before sustaining his injury in Week 7.

The Browns still owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons, and he has cap hits of $72.9 million in 2025 and 2026, currently the second highest in the NFL. In late December, Cleveland and Watson agreed to restructure his contract, adding two void years, which allow the Browns to push out his dead salary cap into 2030, league sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Browns on Sunday fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson after one season, but head coach Kevin Stefanski said he doesn't anticipate any other major staff changes.

Despite a 3-14 finish, the franchise's worst record since going 0-16 in 2017, Berry said he does not envision a rebuild this offseason. Berry said he expects defensive end Myles Garrett, who has voiced a distaste for going through a rebuild, will remain and retire as a Brown.

"I don't envision an offseason where we're moving on from a ton of core players," Berry said.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, scheduled to interview Tuesday for the team's head coaching vacancy, is convinced he will land the job.

If it happens, he says he will put an end to the Aaron Rodgers "country club."

Ryan, appearing Monday morning on ESPN New York radio, ripped the future Hall of Famer for skipping the team's mandatory minicamp last June to take a vacation to Egypt. He also criticized the organization's "abysmal" leadership for condoning it.

"Clearly, when you have a guy that doesn't show up for mandatory minicamp -- and, by the way, he's your quarterback, coming off an injury -- I think that's an absolutely ridiculous message you send to the team," Ryan said during a spot on the "DiPietro & Rothenberg Show."

"If he comes back, things would be different. If he's back, it ain't gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up. That ain't gonna happen. I'll just leave it at that," Ryan said.

Rodgers, who blamed his absence on a scheduling mix-up, was fined approximately $100,000 by the Jets for missing the minicamp. Then-coach Robert Saleh called it an unexcused absence, though he wasn't particularly critical of the four-time MVP. Rodgers, 41, is undecided on his future, saying he will take time to consider it.

Ryan, who has been lobbying for the Jets' job, will meet with team brass in Palm Beach, Florida, where owner Woody Johnson has a home. The meeting will occur nearly 16 years to the day of his first interview with the team, when he went from Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator to Jets head coach in January 2009.

He went 46-50 in six seasons, leading the Jets to the playoffs and back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010 -- the franchise's last postseason appearances. He was fired by Johnson after going 4-12 in 2014, but he has maintained a relationship with the owner.

"The reason I think I'm going to get it is because I'm the best guy for it. It ain't close. The thing you have to do is, you have to connect with your football team, you have to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that's the most important thing. It's not just the Xs and Os and all that. This Ben Johnson, I love him, I absolutely love him, but I'm a better candidate for this job than he would be." Rex Ryan

The team already has interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and former Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera. The Jets also have submitted interview requests for at least four offensive coordinators -- Arthur Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers), Bobby Slowik (Houston Texans), Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills) and Matt Nagy (Kansas City Chiefs), according to reports. The Jets are also expected to submit requests for at least three defensive coordinators -- Aaron Glenn (Detroit Lions), Vance Joseph (Denver Broncos) and Brian Flores (Minnesota Vikings) -- and two quarterback coaches -- Josh McCown (Vikings) and Brian Griese (San Francisco 49ers -- sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The ever-confident Ryan, now an ESPN analyst, expects to land the position.

"Oh, 100 percent, absolutely, I do," he said. "The reason I think I'm going to get it is because I'm the best guy for it. It ain't close. The thing you have to do is, you have to connect with your football team, you have to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that's the most important thing.

"It's not just the X's and O's and all that. This Ben Johnson, I love him, I absolutely love him, but I'm a better candidate for this job than he would be."

The Lions' offensive coordinator is one of the hottest candidates on the market, but he's not expected to interview with the Jets, sources said.

Ryan said the current Jets are "not short on talent." He blamed their 5-12 season on a "lack of organizational leadership," pointing to the coaching staff. Saleh was fired in October, followed by general manager Joe Douglas in November.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson but retained GM Trent Baalke on Monday, the team announced.

Pederson's firing comes after the team finished 4-13 this season; it has lost 18 of its past 23 games.

"I had the difficult task this morning of informing Doug Pederson of my intention to hire a new head coach to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars," owner Shad Khan said in a statement. "Doug is an accomplished football man who will undoubtedly enjoy another chapter in his impressive NFL career, and I will be rooting for Doug and his wife Jeannie when that occasion arrives. As much as Doug and I both wish his experience here in Jacksonville would have ended better, I have an obligation first and foremost to serve the best interests of our team and especially our fans, who faithfully support our team and are overdue to be rewarded. In that spirit, the time to summon new leadership is now.

"I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago. I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville."

Khan will now be searching for his sixth head coach since he purchased the team in November 2011 and assumed control in 2012. Baalke is entering the final year of his contract.

"When you don't win, there's changes that come from in all areas, coaching, management, and the players," tight end Evan Engram said. "So there's going to be a lot of changes moving forward based on us not getting the job done. And it's unfortunate. It's been a great three years playing for Doug. I've learned a lot. I've grown a lot, and this place is definitely going to grow from the experiences we've had under him and moving forward. "It's definitely going to be different, but I appreciate Doug for everything he's done and wish him the best moving forward."

Khan had big expectations for 2024, telling the team the night before training camp began last July that this was the "best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever" and that he expected the team to make the playoffs. Those comments became public via an in-house documentary released in early September. But instead, his team set an NFL record with 10 one-score losses, the most in a single season in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

Pederson went 22-29 in three seasons with the Jaguars, including 9-8 records in his first two seasons. Jacksonville won the AFC South in 2022 -- winning its last five games -- and rallied from a 27-0 deficit to beat the Chargers in a wild-card playoff game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs. After starting the 2023 season 8-3, the Jaguars fell apart and missed the playoffs, going 1-5 to end the season.

Last season's struggles spilled over into 2024. A 37-point loss on "Monday Night Football" at the Buffalo Bills and a 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in London highlighted major issues early on. A 52-6 loss at Detroit on Nov. 17 was the largest margin of defeat in franchise history (eclipsing a 44-point loss to Detroit in the 1995 inaugural season) and the defense gave up 645 yards, the second-most allowed in a game in franchise history.

The Jaguars have one of the NFL's worst defenses, ranking 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per game (389.9) and last in passing yards allowed per game (257.4) under coordinator Ryan Nielsen, whom Pederson hired to replace Mike Caldwell this past offseason.

Khan hired Pederson in part to help Trevor Lawrence develop into one of the league's top quarterbacks, but Lawrence still struggles with consistency after three seasons in Pederson's offense. Lawrence threw for 2,045 yards and 11 touchdowns before a shoulder injury and concussion Dec. 1 ended his season. His completion percentage (60.6%) is the second-lowest of his career, and he continues to struggle with turnovers.

Pederson also has faced heavy criticism about offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who took over full-time playcalling duties in 2023. After saying he was going to reevaluate the playcalling process last February, Pederson refused to publicly say who was going to call plays in 2024, though it was later confirmed to be Taylor. Even Khan weighed in on the issue, saying in June that he had a preference on who would call plays but would leave the decision up to Pederson.

The Jacksonville offense under Taylor finished this season as one of the worst in the NFL, ranking 25th in yards per game (305.8), 21st in passing yards per game (204.5), and 21st in third downs (37.3%). Season-ending injuries to Lawrence, receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis, and Engram played a significant role in the offense's struggles, but the Jaguars ranked in the middle third of the NFL in scoring, total offense, rushing and passing through the first nine weeks before Lawrence suffered a shoulder injury.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones started seven games in place of Lawrence, and in those starts the Jaguars averaged just 15.0 points per game and he threw for 1,409 yards and six touchdowns with eight interceptions. The lone bright spot on offense has been receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who led all rookies in receiving yards (1,282) and TDs (10). He also had 87 catches, and those marks set single-season franchise rookie records. Thomas was recently named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl.

"It's unfortunate because at the end of the day we all had a hand in this season and just how the way things have shaken out," Kirk said. "I have a ton of respect for Doug. He's made me a better football player, better man. I think he's one of the better coaches to have coached in this league, and it's just unfortunate the way that things went.

"But obviously the organization has to make a decision that they feel is best."

Pederson is most known for his tenure as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He went 42-37-1, made three playoff appearances and won Super Bowl LII in five seasons in Philadelphia (2016-20). He was fired after the 2020 season and spent 2021 out of football before joining the Jaguars in 2022.

Baalke joined the Jaguars as director of player personnel in February 2020 and was promoted to general manager after Khan fired GM Dave Caldwell that November. Baalke's tenure started with the selection of Lawrence with the first overall pick in 2021 and included Urban Meyer's calamitous 13-game span as head coach, the hiring of Pederson, an AFC South title, a rally from a 27-0 deficit to win a wild-card playoff game, the biggest collapse in franchise history, and signing one of the best free agent classes in team history.

But Baalke also made a questionable decision by choosing defensive end Travon Walker over defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 1 pick in 2022 and signed one of the most disappointing free agent classes in franchise history this season. He also was critical of the team's lack of identity on offense and defense in 2023, but the same problem has plagued the team this season.

Nine of Baalke's 38 draft picks from 2021-24 have become full-time starters, including Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne Jr. (25th overall in 2021), cornerback Tyson Campbell (33rd overall in 2021), Walker, linebacker Devin Lloyd (27th overall in 2022), right tackle Anton Harrison (27th overall in 2023), and Thomas (23rd overall in 2024). Lawrence is the only one to make a Pro Bowl.