Robbie Fowler has commented on Liverpool’s disallowed goal during their defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
After back-to-back wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, the Reds reverted to type against their Premier League title rivals.
Arsenal dropped points the day prior, giving Manchester City or Arne Slot’s side a chance to close the gap on the league leaders.
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But when all was said and done, Liverpool lost 3-0 in Pep Guardiola’s 1000th game as a manager, with Conor Bradley a rare bright spark during a difficult 90 minutes.
However, things could have been a lot different had Virgil van Dijk’s goal stood.
Robbie Fowler looks on during the Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur game
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
After going 1-0 down in the 29th minute, Liverpool thought they had equalised via Van Dijk.
However, VAR ruled the goal out as Andy Robertson was adjudged to be offside and blocking Gianluigi Donnarumma’s line of sight.
Now, speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Robbie Fowler has claimed his former side are due an apology from PGMOL following the decision.
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He said: “I mean, I said yesterday, I think Liverpool will be getting an apology from the PGMOL. I mean, I can’t see how they can’t because for me it’s a big mistake. I get Andy Robertson’s in an offside position, you know, I get that.
“But for me, he’s not interfering with play. The keeper can see the ball, he’s not in the line of sight. The keeper dives, and still doesn’t get it.
“So for me, it’s, I mean, VAR was brought in to maybe change the game. Maybe like, I don’t know if it’s been for the better. I mean, saying that, if VAR is not there, the referee, I mean, maybe the linesman or the assistant referee’s flag goes up anyway.”
“So then there’s another argument. But I mean, for me, it should have stood that. I can’t for the life of me.”
Mark Clattenburg’s verdict on Virgil van Dijk goal
The call is certainly going to divide football fans, and a case could be made that the game would have been very different should Van Dijk’s goal stood.
Speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg gave his verdict on Robertson being offside for the goal.
He said: “It will split opinions but Andrew Robertson is in an offside position in front of the goalkeeper when Virgil Van Dijk heads the ball into the goal,” he told Rousing The Kop.
“I believe if Robertson had made a movement to the left or right and had not ducked under the ball which distracted the goalkeeper, he would not have been punished for being in the offside position.
“Robertson does not affect the line of vision as a defender was blocking this and does not impact his ability to save the ball but clearly distracts.”
It may well prove to be a season-defining moment for Slot and his men, who have now lost five in six Premier League matches.
Roy Keane has serious concerns about Liverpool following their latest defeat, while there is now a six-point gap between them and Arsenal.
The Premier League champions will return to action against Nottingham Forest on November 22.