Liverpool fume over Man City 'double standards' as Sky Sports pundit shares VAR theory

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot was left fuming that Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed at Manchester City - and claimed their opponents had a goal given in a similar scenario last season at Wolves .

On that occasion their goal stood with then Wolves boss Gary O'Neil hinting at "something in the subconscious around decision-making" when it came to giving goals for the Premier League's biggest sides.

Van Dijk thought he'd headed home an equaliser for the Reds at the Etihad in the first-half on Sunday. The Dutchman reeled away before a VAR checked began, with his goal subsequently chalked off after Andy Robertson was deemed to be in an offside position.

The Liverpool left-back was stood beyond the last City defender, leading VAR to determine that he had interfered with Gianluigi Donnarumma. City, though, were on the right end of a similar decision last season when John Stones scored deep into stoppage time, despite Bernardo Silva being close to goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Slot was quick to bring that up as he bemoaned the referee's decision . He said: "Immediately after the game, someone showed me the goal, that what the same referee allowed City against Wolves last season. So it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it’s offside. So there was clearly communication."

On that occasion VAR, who awarded the 95th minute goal, claimed that "Bernardo Silva wasn't in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper". O'Neil, though, wasn't sold and questioned whether the side nearer the bottom had again been on the wrong end of the decision.

He said last season: "Without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves? If I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I'd upset the little guy. Nothing against little guys, but you know what I mean? Like, there is something in there and they definitely don't do it on purpose.

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"I know they're 100 per cent honest and they're doing the best job they can and I respect them fully. But maybe, maybe there's something that just edges in in that direction when it's really tight."

Van Dijk's disallowed goal on Sunday came shortly before Nico Gonzalez doubled City's lead - his shot deflecting in off the Liverpool defender. Gary Neville was among those stunned that the Dutchman had his effort chalked off by VAR.

He said on co-commentary: “I think he is outside the eyeline of the goalkeeper. I think [Arne] Slot is right to be fuming. The goalkeeper is not getting anywhere near that. He had a clear line of sight.”

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