Liverpool have contacted Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to challenge the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk's header against Manchester City on Sunday. The club believes the criteria for an offside offence were not met when Andy Robertson was penalised for interfering with the goalkeeper.
Referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Michael Oliver ruled that Robertson, in an offside position, made an obvious action directly in front of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma by ducking out of the way. Liverpool dispute that Robertson affected Donnarumma's line of vision and are puzzled that VAR did not overturn the decision.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted a clear and obvious error had been made, pointing to a similar incident last season when City's Bernardo Silva stood near the goalkeeper as John Stones scored, with the same referee allowing the goal. Slot said: 'He [Robertson] didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do.'
PGMO chief Howard Webb has been contacted by Liverpool, who argue that Law 11 does not apply to Robertson's action. The club maintain that the goal should have stood, though Slot acknowledged that being 2-0 down at half-time was a fair reflection of the match, which City won 3-0.
