Even for these of us used to Premier League officiating inconsistency, this one takes some beating.
ITV presenter Mark Pougatch has turn into the newest to query why Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header was disallowed in Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester Metropolis and his phrases echo what many people had been shouting.
“Donnarumma sees that header all the way in which,” Pougatch posted on X. “The replays clearly present the keeper might see Van Dijk’s header all the way in which, however Robertson.
“So what on earth is the rationale to disallow that? I feel VAR is having an absolute shocker at the moment.”
It was a second that would have modified your entire move of the match, as our captain thought he’d drawn us stage earlier than Chris Kavanagh and VAR Michael Oliver mixed to rule it out for an obvious offside by Andy Robertson.
Liverpool undone by one other baffling choice
The choice centred on Robertson supposedly impeding Donnarumma’s line of sight, despite the fact that digital camera angles confirmed the Italy worldwide had a totally unobstructed view of the ball.
That clarification didn’t wash with Pougatch, nor with the likes of Gary Neville and Micah Richards, who each questioned the logic behind the decision dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Arne Slot publicly uncovered the laughable inconsistency of Kavanagh’s refereeing, referencing an almost equivalent offside state of affairs involving Bernardo Silva final season.
It appears like a second the place even the Premier League’s personal rulebook struggled to justify the choice.
Stats present simply how pricey choices like this have turn into
Liverpool have now seen 5 targets dominated out by VAR this season, the joint-most within the Premier League, and all 5 have are available video games away from residence.
These numbers add up. Selections like this alteration video games, form narratives, and chip away at momentum.
The Reds didn’t document a shot heading in the right direction till the 76th minute, however had Van Dijk’s header stood, it might need compelled a really totally different contest.
You’ll be able to view the response to Van Dijk’s disallowed purpose through @markpougatch on X:
Donnarumma sees that header all the way in which. The replays clearly present the keeper might see Van Djik’s header all the way in which, however Robertson. So what on earth is the rationale to disallow that? I feel VAR is having an absolute shocker at the moment #MCILIV
— Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) November 9, 2025
You’ll be able to view Slot’s post-Man Metropolis press convention through Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
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