Copyright Athlon Sports
Liverpool has contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to express concerns after captain Virgil van Dijk’s goal was disallowed during Sunday’s 3-0 away defeat to Manchester City, according to The Athletic. Van Dijk appeared to score an equalizing header from a Mohamed Salah corner in the 38th minute. The Dutch central defender raced to the corner flag to celebrate with teammates. Liverpool’s celebrations were short-lived, as the referee’s flag was raised. Left-back Andrew Robertson was deemed to have strayed into an offside position by assistant referee Stuart Burt. Robertson was judged to have impeded Man City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s ability to save the ball. The goal was disallowed, and the VAR review confirmed the referee’s offside decision. Had the goal stood, the match would have likely entered halftime tied 1-1. Liverpool manager Arne Slot stated his disagreement with the decision following the match. “I think it’s obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion,” Slot said to Sky Sports. “Because he [Robertson] didn’t interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do. That could have influenced the game in a positive way for us because in the first half we were so poor.” On Monday, Liverpool contacted the PGMOL regarding the ruling. According to reporter James Peace: “Liverpool have contacted referees’ chief Howard Webb to raise serious concerns about Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Liverpool have told Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) that they do not accept that the decision was arrived at for subjective reasons. They believe that the wording of the law is clear and that no elements of the criteria needed to disallow the goal were met so it should have been allowed to stand.”
