Liverpool handed new referee verdict on Virgil van Dijk goal as Premier League sent clear message

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Liverpool suffered another setback on Sunday afternoon after they were beaten by Manchester City at the Etihad. Arne Slot’s side fell behind when Erling Haaland headed home after he had earlier had a penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

City would go on to seal all three points thanks to goals from Nico Gonzalez and the outstanding Jeremy Doku, but that was only after Virgil van Dijk had a goal ruled out. The Dutchman headed home a corner, but following a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside, with Andy Robertson adjudged to be interfering with play.

And former referee and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Keith Hackett has explained why he believes the wrong call was made.

“Well we saw Liverpool have a perfectly good goal ruled out on the basis of offside,” he told Football Insider .

“We know there is a degree of subjectivity in this specific law, but let's have a look at it. A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by interfering with play, by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team mate or interfering with an opponent by preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play by clearly obstructing the opponents line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball.

“Yes he’s [Robertson] in an offside position but that in itself not an offence. Did he really interfere with the goalkeeper?

“Wrong in my opinion. Yes I agree a degree of subjectivity around this law, but my opinion is I don’t like good goals being ruled out.“

Speaking about the decision after the game, Van Dijk said: "In football the officials are deciding the key decisions and we have to deal with it on the pitch. There is no point discussing this from my point of view. The reality is that we lost 3-0 and that is a big blow.

"It doesn't matter what I say [about the goal] because anything I say will be in the media and the whole international break will be about my comment on the decision. I just focus on the fact we lost. You guys can debate if it should have stood.

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"The first half was difficult and they were much more comfortable on the ball and it was difficult for our guys to put pressure on them.

“I don't think there was a lot of danger, but Doku had a good game and it was difficult for Conor [Bradley] in the one on one at times. I don't think we were much in trouble but we could have done better.

"We had to dig deep in the second half. We got more momentum in possession but out pressing wasn't good enough.

"It's about finding consistency and carrying on. Now we go to our countries, stay fit and be ready for a big run after.

“We are not going to give up whatsoever. We are in November and we are ready for a long season and a big fight."

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