LIVELPOOL extended its unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 50 games with a 1-0 win against Wolverhampton in a scrappy match on Sunday where two video replays went in the runaway league leader’s favor. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side is 13 points clear of second-place Leicester and 14 ahead of defending champion Manchester City, having played one game less than both its rivals.

Sadio Mane’s goal in the 42nd minute was allowed after VAR ruled out a handball from passer Adam Lallana, and a Wolves equalizer from Pedro Neto in first-half injury time was not allowed because VAR revealed there was a fractional offside beforehand.

Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo was puzzled by the decisions.

“Anfield is amazing, but they are celebrating a non-goal. It doesn’t make sense. The referees should sustain their decisions,” he said. “The decisions are (instead) being taken by a referee that is miles from here, miles and miles away (behind) a TV screen. He doesn’t feel the game.” It is the second time in Liverpool’s history it has gone 50 league games at home unbeaten in the top division, having achieved a run of 63 games between 1978 and 1980.

Chelsea is the only other side to have previously reached the mark with an impressive 86-game spell without losing at Stamford Bridge, between 2004 and 2008.

Liverpool also ended a calendar year unbeaten at home in all competitions for the fifth time, after doing so in 1893, 1979, ‘80 and ‘90 - the year it won the last of its 18 league titles.

Liverpool’s last home defeat in the league was at home to Crystal Palace in April 2017. But Klopp is trying to prevent fans from getting too carried away by the huge midseason lead.

“Who cares about points in December?” he said. “We’ve just created a basis which we will work with from now on.”

The Champions League and Club World Cup winners looked tired following a hectic recent schedule. After Mohamed Salah’s tame volley was easily saved and Roberto Firmino’s glancing header from a corner went wide, Mane swept the ball in from close range. Lallana had moved smartly between two defenders to reach Virgil van Dijk’s long pass and knock the ball down.

Referee Anthony Taylor called for a video replay, which established that the ball struck the top of Lallana’s shoulder and not his arm. It appeared unclear, however, if Van Dijk hand-balled when receiving a high ball before launching his pass to Lallana.

There was more frustration to come for the angry Wolves bench. After Van Dijk, Firmino, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all failed to clear a cross from the right, Neto finished neatly from 15 meters out. But images showed Jonny was fractionally offside because his hand was ahead of the defender marking him.

“VAR’s killing us,” Wolves captain Conor Coady said. “It’s constantly against us. I don’t know where we’re going wrong.”

(SD-Agencies)