Why Harry Maguire escaped Manchester United red card vs Fulham after VAR incident

The Video Assistant Referee checked and cleared a challenge from Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic, during Fulham's dramatic 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The MEN understands that the VAR checked the incident involving the centre-back but it was seen as foot-on-foot contact and referee Michael Oliver had not made a clear and obvious error.

Ten minutes before the break, the 30-year-old dangled his right leg as he went to block a pass from Lukic, which left the Serbia midfielder in a heap. Maguire escaped with just a yellow card and following a check from Stockley Park, there was no need for further action.

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Both sides had opportunities at Old Trafford with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Maguire going close. But it was Marco Silva's side who took the lead through Calvin Bassey when the Nigerian defender powered a strike into the roof of the net to give the visitors the lead.

Maguire brought United level late to capitalise on Bernd Leno's mistake after the German parried Bruno Fernandes' effort. The hosts threatened to complete the comeback but Alex Iwobi snatched the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

United had been in fine form going into the encounter with Fulham. Erik ten Hag named 19-year-old Omari Forson as a starter ahead of Antony for his Premier League bow but was sacrificed after 53 minutes.

United were looking to pick up a fifth straight Premier League win, following impressive wins over Wolves, West Ham and back-to-back 2-1 away triumphs against Aston Villa and Luton Town.

With Tottenham Hotspur not in action this weekend,