Liverpool were denied the equaliser against Manchester City after Virgil van Dijk headed home
Virgil van Dijk's goal was disallowed.
Virgil van Dijk's goal was disallowed.(Image: Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images))
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Gary Neville disagreed with the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk's goal for Liverpool against Manchester City. Andy Robertson was adjudged to have obstructed the host's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Liverpool captain thought he had levelled proceedings, after Erling Haaland's effort shortly before the half-hour mark. It was a well-worked corner routine that saw the Dutchman left unmarked and he made no mistake in steering his header into the far corner.
However, the linesman on the far side had his flag up and the VAR agreed that Robertson had obstructed the Italian shot-stopper. On the stroke of half-time, Liverpool's task became greater when Nico Gonzalez's effort deflected by Giorgi Mamardashvili.
It could have been a different story had the goal stood and the former Manchester United was left surprised by the decision to disallow the goal.
Neville claimed that Arne Slot was right to be left angered by the decision. He said: "They've worked it well, they've isolated Van Dijk and you see Robertson is to the left of Donnarumma.
"Hmmm, I'm not sure you know. I'm not convinced he's ever getting near that and he's not impeding him of his view either.I think he's outside the line of the goalkeeper and the goalkeeper gets a clear view.
"You know the rules better than I do, you can see it. I think he's right to be fuming Arne Slot."
Liverpool were second best against their Premier League title rivals and could have found themselves behind after just nine minutes as the hosts were awarded a penalty for a foul Jeremy Doku.
Haaland stepped up but was denied by Giorgi Mamardashvili, who guessed the right way and atoned for his role in bringing down the Belgian.
But Liverpool were behind shortly after when Matheus Nunes' cross cannoned off Ibrahima Konate and Haaland before looping home.
The Reds thought they'd hit back through Van Dijk, six minutes before the interval, but it was ruled out.
In first-half stoppage-time, Gonzalez doubled their lead as his effort from range clipped Van Dijk on the way through, leaving Mamardashvili wrong-footed.
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