Liverpool have a knack for being involved in controversial moments involving the officials, with no shortage of flashpoints over the years.The trip to Man City conjured up another controversial moment after Virgil van Dijk‘s goal was disallowed, with the full VAR audio not exactly clarifying the referee’s case.That particular instance is on the tame end of the spectrum when it comes to run-ins with the officials, as we have ranged from crazy to monumental human errors.There is an acceptance that humans make mistakes, but Liverpool have been involved in a bizarre number of incidents in recent years, and we’re going back in time to have a look. Andy Robertson elbowed by assistant Constantine HatzidakisThis is not something you would have ever imagined being a possibility, but it was exactly what happened against Arsenal at Anfield in 2023.At half-time, the Scot made his way to Hatzidakis to remonstrate with him over a decision, but would not have expected to be elbowed in the jaw for his troubles.It was a shocking incident and one you had to watch a number of times before to convince yourself it actually happened.The PGMOL pulled Hatzidakis from duty while they investigated, but they took no further action – a bit hard to believe, think if it was the other way around!He did apologise to Robertson and was not involved in a Liverpool match as an assistant referee until January this year. Luis Diaz’s goal incorrectly ruled offsideIf you’re looking for top spot, this is the one – and yet so many were quick to brush it under the carpet!The PGMOL admitted that a “significant human error” occurred as the VAR official overseeing the match, Darren England, failed to intervene to overturn the decision and award the goal.The full audio highlighted a chaotic communication process that showed it took a replay operator to point out the mistake after the goal failed to be awarded.Luis Diaz was onside and had a perfectly good goal ruled out due to incompetence, it was scarcely believable and the hypocrisy that came after the fact was bizarre.Well done boys, good process. John Moss has “no idea” after awarding penaltyWe’re going further back in time with this one, and it is a doozy.In 2018, Liverpool hosted Tottenham in what ended as a 2-2 draw, but the match is remembered for referee Jon Moss awarding a penalty after admitting he had “no idea” about a key touch in the build-up.On a night when VAR was not in operation, Moss awarded a penalty after Loris Karius was adjudged to have impeded Harry Kane, and then consulted his assistant.They sought clarification as to whether the ball was touched by Dejan Lovren, as Kane would have been offside had it not. The dialogue, which included this snippet, is absurd:Ed Smart (ass. ref): “You know what I’m asking; I need to clarify, has Lovren touched the ball? If he has, it’s a deliberate action and, therefore, it’s a penalty. If he has not, it is offside.Moss: “I have no idea whether Lovren touched the ball to be honest with you. Martin (Atkinson), have you got anything from TV? I’m giving the penalty.”Good process…again. VAR ‘forgot’ to check Jordan Pickford tackle on Van DijkJordan Pickford’s reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk ended his 2020/21 season prematurely, but the incident was never checked by VAR operator David Coote.Instead of reviewing why Van Dijk was requiring medical attention, the lengthy check only determined that the Dutchman was offside prior to the incident and thus a free-kick was awarded to Everton.It was later reported that Coote forgot to check for a red card as he was under the belief that the offside nullified anything that followed.The on-field referee, Michael Oliver, later admitted he should have sent Pickford off but was too occupied with the offside ruling. Jurgen Klopp vs. Paul Tierney – “Only you”There was no love lost between Jurgen Klopp and Paul Tierney, that is for certain.The two had more run-ins than any manager-referee duo, and we may be biased, but they typically came after controversial decisions.During a contentious 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021, which saw Robertson sent off but Kane avoid a red card, Klopp said to the referee at full-time: “I have no problems with any referees, only you.”It was not the last run-in, with another prominent example coming after the dramatic 4-3 win against Spurs in 2023, which saw Klopp handed a two-game ban for his comments.He said after the match: “We have our history with Tierney, I really don’t know what he has against us…How he looks at me, I don’t understand it.“What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK.” Raheem Sterling ruled offside vs. Man CityIf you were to ask Liverpool fans, with the exception of Diaz’s disallowed goal, what is one of the most controversial decisions that went against the Reds, it would be this one.On Boxing Day 2013, Brendan Rodgers’ men travelled to the Etihad in a key league fixture and they lost 2-1, but who knows what would have transpired without a calamitous offside call.Sterling was sent clean through on goal and was onside by a few body lengths, and yet the flag went up – at the time, it was the perfect advertisement for why VAR was needed. Virgil van Dijk red card leads to ban and fineVan Dijk had some choice words for referee John Brooks after he was sent off at Newcastle in 2023, with his tackle on Alexander Isak seeing tempers flare.His one-match ban for his red card offence was doubled after he was charged by the FA for labelling the decision a “f***ing joke” as he left the pitch.He was also fined £100,000 for improper conduct. If it was setting a precedent few could argue, but he seems to have been the exception in the years since.Inconsistency at its finest. David Coote and LiverpoolDavid Coote’s career as a referee all but came to an end after a foul-mouthed video criticising Liverpool and Klopp from 2020 surfaced, in what was the last flashpoint.There was no shortage of incidents with Coote over the years, who was involved as VAR when Martin Odegaard turned into a basketball player at Anfield, assessing the incident as the Arsenal captain “falling down.”Howard Webb later admitted it was not the right outcome, but it was a bit too late for that.Then you have Mo Salah being mowed down against Aston Villa in Arne Slot‘s first season, with Coote waving away a clear foul that denied a goalscoring opportunity.When you also factor in the Pickford incident, the list becomes quite bizarre in regard to the amount of instances where Coote is involved. James Tarkowski avoiding red card on Alexis Mac AllisterIt was a high, reckless tackle and lucky not to have broken Alexis Mac Allister‘s leg, and yet James Tarkowski walked away with only a yellow card at Anfield.The PGMOL later acknowledged that the defender should have been sent off and believed VAR Tierney – there he is again – should have recommended a review.The challenge was checked by VAR but Tierney felt there was no clear and obvious error, leading Webb to, again, contact Liverpool regarding their error.As mentioned above, mistakes happen, but the frequency with which they occur, often regarding similar incidents, is why frustration grows as nothing appears to have changed.