Liverpool Football Club has formally contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to express its concerns regarding the officiating during their recent 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. The primary point of contention is the disallowed goal by Virgil van Dijk in the first half.
The incident occurred in the 38th minute with Manchester City leading 1-0. Van Dijk headed in a corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The assistant referee signaled that Andy Robertson was in an offside position and interfering with play. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Michael Oliver upheld the on-field decision, determining that Robertson was "making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper" Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Liverpool disputes this interpretation of Law 11 and does not believe Robertson impeded Donnarumma's line of vision. The club argues that the usual checks and balances in the VAR process were not properly executed. They claim that referee Chris Kavanagh was not invited to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, a step they believe could have led to a different outcome. Liverpool have scrutinized all available footage and reject the assertion that Donnarumma's view was obstructed by Robertson.
Manager Arne Slot voiced his frustration, stating that it was "obvious and clear a wrong decision had been made". He pointed out that Robertson "didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do". Slot also drew attention to a similar incident from the previous season where a goal was allowed to stand for Manchester City against Wolves despite an offside player being in close proximity to the goalkeeper.
Despite the controversy, Slot refrained from blaming the defeat solely on the refereeing decision. He acknowledged that Manchester City was the better team and that Liverpool struggled, especially in the first half.
Liverpool's captain, Virgil van Dijk, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to accept the officials' decisions and focus on the team's performance. He acknowledged that the 3-0 loss was a significant blow.
The Premier League released a statement supporting the referee's decision, asserting that Robertson was in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper. However, this explanation has not quelled the criticism from Liverpool and some observers.
The incident has sparked debate among pundits and fans, with some, like former Manchester United player Gary Neville, expressing sympathy for Liverpool's position. Others, such as Roy Keane, have focused on Liverpool's overall performance, suggesting that the team is in crisis following the defeat.
Liverpool's action of formally contacting Howard Webb, the head of the refereeing body, underscores the club's serious concerns about the consistency and interpretation of the offside rule. The club believes that the criteria for disallowing the goal were not met and that the decision was incorrect.
