Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk thought he had scored the equalizer against Manchester City, only for the goal to be annulled by officials in controversial circumstances
Gary Neville was embroiled in a heated argument with Mike Dean as he criticized the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk’s goal against Manchester City. The Dutch defender thought he had scored the Reds’ equalizer when he converted a stunning corner kick at the Etihad Stadium.
However, this attack was quickly nullified as Andrew Robertson was in an offside position. We also considered VAR and agreed with the decision.
Former Manchester United player Gary Neville was not particularly convinced. He said on commentary: “They did a good job, isolating Van Dijk and you can see Robertson just to the left of Donnarumma.”
“I don’t know if you know it, but I don’t think he’s even close to it. I don’t think he’s getting in the way in terms of how I see myself.”
Mike Dean, a former Premier League referee, replied: “I agree with everyone to a certain extent. The only thing I can say is that he was in the six-yard area of the penalty area and was in front of the keeper when he headed the ball. He was given an offside on the field and it was an offside call.”
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Neville looked unconvinced and replied: “I know, but he’s outside the goalkeeper’s line and I think the goalkeeper can see well. You know the rules better than I do. You can see that Robertson is there, Van Dijk can clearly see it. He can see it. He has no position to stop. I think he has a right to be angry, Arne Slott.”
Dean then said: “I understand where you’re coming from, but the way the law is currently written, it should be ruled offside because it’s so close to the goalkeeper in the goal area. And Robertson ducked out of the way. He’s in an offside position. I totally agree with the referee’s decision that it was offside.”
Neville continued to complain as half-time approached, suggesting the goal should have been his goal. “We got a goal a few weeks ago, was there anything similar to that? I don’t know. I think Donnarumma had a clear view of the ball. Robertson doesn’t get in the way. At the end of the day, it’s not going to be overturned. If I were Liverpool, I’d feel like I was punished harshly,” he said.
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Meanwhile, the Premier League Match Center released a statement clarifying the incident. “The referee’s offside and no-goal call for Liverpool was confirmed by VAR, who determined that Robertson was in an offside position and had clearly acted in front of the goalkeeper.”
Van Dijk’s goal wasn’t the only controversial goal at the Etihad. Haaland saved City’s spot-kick after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Giorgi Mamadashvili, but VAR awarded him a penalty.
The striker eventually got his name on the scoresheet with a header before Nico Gonzalez doubled the hosts’ lead with a deflected shot.
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