Virgil Van Dijk Thought He Had Equalized for Liverpool Against Man City, But Referee Chris Kavanagh Ruled the Goal Out for Controversial Offside and VAR Agreed – Former PGMOL Chief Keith Hackett Weighs In on the Big Call

Liverpool fans were left seething after a controversial offside decision by referee Chris Kavanagh denied Virgil van Dijk what seemed like an equalizing goal against Manchester City. In the 38th minute, with Liverpool trailing 1-0, Van Dijk thought he had headed in a Mohamed Salah corner to bring the Reds back into the game. However, Kavanagh ruled the goal out for offside, with a subsequent VAR review confirming the decision, sparking a debate that is still ongoing.

The Moment That Changed the Game

The incident came at a crucial moment in the match. After Erling Haaland had given City the lead just before the half-hour mark, Liverpool were pressing for an equalizer. In the 38th minute, Van Dijk leapt to meet Salah’s inswinging corner, sending a powerful header beyond City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, before the celebrations could begin, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside, with VAR soon confirming the call. The reason? Liverpool’s Andy Robertson was judged to be offside and interfering with play, despite not touching the ball.

The Controversy Around Robertson’s Position

Robertson had ducked out of the way of Van Dijk’s header as it sailed toward the goal. His position was just ahead of City’s Jeremy Doku and behind the goalkeeper, and while he didn’t physically block Donnarumma’s line of sight, his proximity to the action was deemed enough to influence the play. The decision raised eyebrows, as many felt that Robertson’s movement had no real impact on the goalkeeper’s ability to stop the shot. Nevertheless, VAR upheld the referee’s decision, much to the frustration of Liverpool’s manager and players.

Manager Arne Slot’s Reaction

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was visibly frustrated after the game, telling Sky Sports that it was “obvious and clear” the wrong decision had been made. Slot argued that Robertson did not interfere with Donnarumma’s ability to save the ball and pointed out that the linesman took just 13 seconds to raise his flag. He compared the incident to a similar situation in a previous Manchester City match against Wolves, where a goal allowed by the same referee seemed to defy similar logic. Slot’s comments underscored the frustration felt by many that this controversial decision came at such a pivotal moment in the game.

Van Dijk’s Discontent

Virgil van Dijk, who had thought he had scored the equalizer, was also visibly upset with the decision. While he refrained from making any inflammatory comments about the refereeing, he made it clear that the final decision was out of his hands. “It doesn’t matter what I say, because anything I say will just become a story for the media,” Van Dijk said, adding that he didn’t want to fuel further controversy during the international break. However, it was clear that the Dutch defender was not happy with the way the match was officiated, especially considering how much was riding on that moment.

The Laws of Offside and the VAR Review

The controversy primarily centers around the interpretation of the offside law. According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, offside can be called if a player is deemed to have “interfered with an opponent.” In this case, Robertson was judged to be in an offside position and to have made an “obvious action” by ducking out of the way, which allegedly impacted Donnarumma’s ability to play the ball. However, critics argue that Robertson’s action had no significant bearing on the goalkeeper’s ability to save the header, given that he was not directly in the goalkeeper’s line of vision.

Pundits Weigh In on the Decision

The disallowed goal sparked a flurry of debate among pundits and former players. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy expressed the belief that the goal “should have stood,” arguing that Robertson was “not in Donnarumma’s line of vision” and that the goalkeeper had an unobstructed view of the ball. Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville agreed, stating that he wasn’t sure if the decision should have been made given Robertson’s position to the left of the goalkeeper. Similarly, former Aston Villa forward Dion Dublin also stated that while Robertson was offside, he wasn’t directly blocking the goalkeeper’s view, which made the decision hard to justify.

Wayne Rooney’s Support for Van Dijk

Wayne Rooney, another former player who weighed in on the decision, agreed with the general consensus that the goal should have stood. Rooney argued that Robertson’s movement did not delay Donnarumma’s reaction and that the goalkeeper could see the ball all the way through. He suggested that the decision to rule the goal out was the wrong one, adding that it should have been given.

The Role of VAR and Subjective Offside Calls

Subjective offside calls, like the one in this case, have long been a point of contention in football. These decisions often require the officials to make a judgment about whether the offside player’s position or actions have impacted the play. In this case, while Robertson didn’t touch the ball, his position and movement were considered to have influenced the goalkeeper’s ability to save it. Keith Hackett, the former chief of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), explained that the key issue wasn’t about the goalkeeper’s line of sight but whether Robertson’s action had an impact on the play. He supported the on-field decision, stating that it was borderline but still a reasonable call.

Comparing Similar Situations in the Premier League

Hackett also drew comparisons to similar situations in previous Premier League matches. For instance, during a match between Manchester City and Wolves, a goal was allowed even though Bernardo Silva appeared to interfere in play by being in the goalkeeper’s line of sight. In that case, despite Silva’s movement being similar to Robertson’s, the goal was upheld. Hackett suggested that in these borderline offside calls, the VAR review should take precedence to ensure the right decision is made.

The Bigger Picture: Liverpool’s Discontent

The impact of this decision extended beyond just the disallowed goal. The fact that Liverpool lost the match 3-0 after the goal was ruled out only added fuel to the fire. Manager Arne Slot and his players felt that the decision not only denied them a legitimate goal but also altered the course of the game. With the momentum shifting against them, Liverpool found themselves trailing 2-0 shortly after the disallowed goal, and their chances of making a comeback were slim. Slot emphasized that while the team’s first-half performance was poor, the disallowed goal could have changed the dynamic of the game, and potentially the result.

Looking Ahead: Will There Be Consequences?

As the controversy surrounding the decision continues to grow, many are left wondering if there will be any repercussions for the officials involved. While VAR is meant to ensure that key decisions are reviewed and corrected, subjective calls like these will always remain a grey area. Liverpool’s management, players, and fans will likely continue to voice their displeasure with the outcome, but the challenge for football authorities will be finding a way to ensure that similar controversial decisions do not occur in the future. The debate over this offside call is sure to remain a talking point for some time to come, especially as Liverpool continue their campaign in the Premier League.