Gary O’Neil reveals how the lines have changed after analysing latest footage of Florian Wirtz controversy in Liverpool clash
Florian Wirtz scored his second goal in three games as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw away at Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
The German has had a slow start to life in the Premier League following his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, but he has finally started to find his feet for the Reds in recent weeks.
Wirtz equalised for Liverpool on Sunday, after Harry Wilson had put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute.
Cody Gakpo then thought he’d won it for the visitors in the fourth minute of stoppage time, only for Harrison Reed to snatch a point for the hosts with a stunning 97th-minute strike.
It was an end-to-end encounter at Craven Cottage, and Arne Slot’s men appeared to get the benefit of the doubt in the game’s most controversial moment.
Gary O’Neil thinks Liverpool benefited from VAR tolerance
Liverpool fans erupted at Slot after Reed’s late equaliser condemned the Reds to back-to-back draws, but it could easily have gone even worse for their team had the Wirtz goal been viewed slightly differently.
The German produced a slick finish after being laid in on goal by Conor Bradley, but he initially saw his effort ruled out by the linesman’s flag.
VAR then checked the disallowed goal using the semi-automated offside system, and instructed on-field referee Craig Pawson to award the goal, despite initial images seemingly suggesting that Wirtz was beyond Issa Diop as the last man.
The topic was debated on Match of the Day on Sunday evening, with presenter Gabby Logan outlining the five-centimetre tolerance that is in place, which gives the benefit of the doubt to the attacker in tight situations.
Gary O’Neil then weighed in with his interpretation of the incident, and he suggested that the tolerance was the reason why the goal was given.
“The lines were made thicker a few years ago, I think, to try and give an advantage to the attacking players,” the former Wolves and Bournemouth boss said during his analysis.
“All of us would say that on the naked eye, Wirtz’s foot looks like it’s ahead of Diop’s. Wirtz’s foot looks like it’s just drifted ahead into that lighter cut of grass. You would say that this would probably be disallowed for offside at this moment.
“When it turns to the semi-automated view, it doesn’t quite look the same. It looks like Wirtz has managed to stay on the right side of Diop. We don’t have the privilege of seeing the lines here, but it is a possibility that the five centimetres of tolerance has led to this goal standing.”
Keith Hackett questions Premier League’s semi-automated offside technology
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that he is unsure of the quality of the Premier League’s semi-automated offside system in the aftermath of Sunday’s controversy.
The former official outlined that the Premier League are using a hybrid offside system, which differs from the one used by both UEFA and FIFA at the moment.
Hackett pointed towards the accuracy of the Hawkeye goal line technology system that is used in the top-flight as a benchmark, but also added that the semi-automated offside technology isn’t delivering the same level of accuracy.
That will be a major concern for managers and officials moving forward, but Slot and Liverpool will count themselves lucky that they came out on the right side of the decision this time around.