Ex-Fifa official: Laws applied incorrectly as controversial Virgil van Dijk footage emerges from Liverpool
Aston Villa’s goal in their 2-1 loss to Liverpool last week (10 May) should have been disallowed for offside, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the decision to allow play to continue after Ollie Watkins was offside “not the right interpretation of the law”.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, Watkins received the ball in an offside position and had a shot saved by Alisson before the ball was recycled and Douglas Luiz eventually scored.
Both Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip appealed to the assistant straight after Watkins’ shot was saved and momentarily switched off as Villa continued to play.
Van Dijk has been a vocal critic of the new practice of delaying the flag and, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo last month (4 April), he called for it to be scrapped.
“Maybe I’m old school but that player has clearly interfered with play,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s gained possession of the ball and for me, this is an incorrect application of the law. It’s not the right interpretation of the law.
“That player was offside and the opposition have has stopped for seconds. He’s not marginally offside, he’s well offside.
“That is one that should have been pulled back.”
Liverpool equalised at Villa Park just two minutes later before Sadio Mane scored a winner in the second half.
The Reds face Southampton on Tuesday night (17 May) before hosting Wolves on the final day as they look to keep their slim hopes of winning the Premier League alive.
In other news, a Liverpool 21-yr-old has agreed to quit the club after an agreement.