Even for these of us used to Premier League officiating inconsistency, this one takes some beating.
ITV presenter Mark Pougatch has grow to be the most recent 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 have 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 explanation to disallow that? I feel VAR is having an absolute shocker at this time.”
It was a second that would have modified your entire stream 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 determination
The choice centred on Robertson supposedly impeding Donnarumma’s line of sight, though 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 stay on Sky Sports activities.
Arne Slot publicly uncovered the laughable inconsistency of Kavanagh’s refereeing, referencing an almost an identical offside scenario involving Bernardo Silva final season.
It seems like a second the place even the Premier League’s personal rulebook struggled to justify the choice.
Stats present simply how pricey selections like this have grow to be
Liverpool have now seen 5 objectives dominated out by VAR this season, the joint-most within the Premier League, and all 5 have are available in video games away from residence.
These numbers add up. Selections like this variation video games, form narratives, and chip away at momentum.
The Reds did not file a shot on track till the 76th minute, however had Van Dijk’s header stood, it may need pressured a really completely different contest.
You may view the response to Van Dijk’s disallowed purpose by way of @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 explanation to disallow that? I feel VAR is having an absolute shocker at this time #MCILIV
— Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) November 9, 2025
You may view Slot’s post-Man Metropolis press convention by way of Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
Be part of our channel of readers on WhatsApp to get the day’s high tales straight to your cellular
