Credit: Imago / Now Sports

Harri Burton

Sat 28 February 2026 17:25, UK

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West Ham supporters were absolutely furious with Joe Gomez as Virgil van Dijk’s goal was allowed to stand in the first half against Liverpool.

With the Hammers two points from Premier League safety, it was vital that they got off to a bright start at Anfield on Saturday, 28 February, only to find themselves behind after just five minutes.

Then, in the 24th minute, Van Dijk doubled Liverpool‘s lead, rising highest from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner, giving Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side a mountain to climb away from home.

Importantly, there was a brief VAR check for offside in the build-up to the goal, but after the review, the goal was allowed to stand, and the Reds would only go on to assert their dominance at Anfield.

• Read more: BBC pundit mind-blow over what West Ham did vs Liverpool.

West Ham fans explode at Joe Gomez as Liverpool goal stands

Away fans were absolutely adamant that the goal should have ruled out due to Gomez impeding Mads Hermansen, blocking the goalkeeper from coming to claim the cross.

There was certainly an argument to be made, hence the VAR check on the goal, but disallowing the goal would have been rather harsh in the grand scheme of things. West Ham fans, however, disagree.

Supporters continued to be baffled as to how Gomez wasn’t ruled offside, but the incident was quickly brushed aside as Mac Allister fired home a third on the volley before half-time.

• @ANVL007: “Joe Gomez is offside, pushing back on the keeper, and VVD scores. Never have I seen such pity-pandering from the media and such a one-sided refereeing support for a team in my life, offside tolerances? Any other club wouldn’t be getting ‘tolerances’ like this victim-claiming lot.”
• @northwesthammer: “Gomez should have been flagged offside, he’s literally backing into our keeper for the goal.”
• @abwaxy123: “How is that not offside? Gomez is standing in an offside position, distracting the goalkeeper.”

• Read more: These are the mistakes referee Tim Robinson made at Anfield.

West Ham to blame as Arne Slot’s side dominate as set-pieces

While a lot of the focus was on Gomez’s role in Liverpool’s second goal, Steph Houghton was left baffled by what the Hammers were spotted doing following the incident.

Slot’s side continued to dominate in the air, and speaking on BBC’s Final Score, transcribed by BBC Sport (28 February), she said, “It blows my mind that West Ham haven’t changed who is marking Virgil van Dijk.

“Liverpool are fully in control of this, but West Ham will be so disappointed,” as the captain rose highest again before Mac Allister buried the Reds’ third goal in the 43rd minute.

With Konstantinos Mavropanos, Axel Disasi, Soungoutou Magassa and Taty Castellanos all on the pitch, there is more than enough height in the squad to do much better in these situations.

The Hammers were the masters of their own downfall, even if Liverpool always looked the better side inside the penalty area.