Ex-refs chief drops verdict on whether Van Dijk goal should have stood vs Man City
Arne Slot may be left frustrated at Virgil van Dijk’s header being ruled out in Liverpool’s heavy defeat to Man City in the Premier League.
Liverpool lost 3-0 at Man City, with Jeremy Doku dazzling for Pep Guardiola’s side, as they closed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to four points.
However, van Dijk’s header from a corner was ruled out at 1-1 by referee Chris Kavanagh because of Andy Robertson being in an offside position in-front of the goalkeeper.
Such a pivotal moment could prove costly for Liverpool, with the Reds lying in eighth position going into the international break.
Ex-refs chief drops verdict on whether Van Dijk goal should have stood vs Man City
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett did not agree with Kavanagh’s decision to not allow van Dijk’s headed goal.
“Well we saw Liverpool have a perfectly good goal ruled out on the basis of offside,” Hackett said.
“We know there is a degree of subjectivity in this specific law, but lets 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? I think the goalkeeper had a clear line of sight, he could’ve saved it, he didn’t the ball went in and the officials took the easy decision to give offside and rule out the goal.
“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.“
Jeremy Doku penalty also a wrong decision by Chris Kavanagh
Van Dijk’s goal was not the only controversial incident in the encounter at the Etihad, which so often has provided drama in recent seasons.
Doku won Man City a penalty early in the game when Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was adjudged to have fouled the Belgian winger.
Hackett disagreed with the decision to award Man City a penalty for the incident, though justice may have been served when Mamardashvili saved Erling Haaland’s spot kick.