Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk thought he had equalised for the Reds in their clash with Manchester City only for his goal to be ruled out in controversial circumstances by the officials
Van Dijk
Van Dijk saw his celebrations cut short at the Etihad (Image: Getty Images)
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Gary Neville became embroiled in a passionate debate with Mike Dean as he slammed the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk's goal vs Manchester City. The Dutch defender thought he had equalised for the Reds at the Etihad Stadium as he nodded home a brilliant corner.
But the strike was very quickly ruled out due to Andrew Robertson being in an offside position. VAR took a look but agreed with that decision.
Former Manchester United man Gary Neville was not particularly convinced. Speaking on commentary, he said: "Well they've worked it well, they've isolated Van Dijk. And you see Robertson just to the left of Donnarumma.
"I'm not sure you know. I'm not convinced he's ever getting near that. I'm not sure he's impeding in terms of his view either."
Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean replied: "I kind of agree with you there guys. The only thing I would say is that because he's in the six-yard area of the penalty area, with him being in front of the keeper as he heads the ball. It's been given offside on the field, it's an offside decision."
Neville was not to be convinced as he replied: "I know but I think he's outside of the line of the goalkeeper and the goalkeeper gets a clear view. You know the rules better than I do. You see Robertson there, Van Dijk's got a clear view. He can see it. He's got no position that he can stop. I think he's got every right to be fuming, Arne Slot."
Dean then said: "I see where you're coming from but with the way the law is written now, it's so close to the goalkeeper in the goal area, he has to be given offside. And Robertson has ducked out of the way. He's in an offside position. I fully agree with the official's decision that it's offside."
Neville continued his complaints as half-time approached and suggested that the goal potentially should have stood. He said: "Wasn't there a goal a couple of weeks ago given and it was similar to that? I don't know. I just think that Donnarumma's got a clear view of the ball. Robertson's out of the way. Look at the end of the day, it's not going to be overturned. I would feel harshly done to if I was Liverpool."
Van Dijk
Van Dijk saw his celebrations cut short at the Etihad
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Meanwhile, the Premier League Match Centre issued a statement clarifying the incident. It read: "The referee’s call of offside and no goal to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Robertson in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper."
Van Dijk's goal was not the only controversial moment at the Etihad. City had a penalty awarded by VAR after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Giorgi Mamardashvili, albeit Haaland saw his spot-kick saved.
The striker eventually got on the scoresheet with a header, with Nico Gonzalez doubling the hosts' lead with deflected effort.
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