Match Referee Michael Oliver reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 19, 2025 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Match Referee Michael Oliver reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 19, 2025 in Liverpool, England. | Getty Images
Liverpool have made official contact with the PGMOL about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City on Sunday
Liverpool have contacted PGMOL chief Howard Webb to raise ‘serious concerns’ over Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal in the Reds’ 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday.
The news of the official contact with the referees’ chief was broke by James Pearce of The Athletic. He reported Liverpool do not acceptthat the decision to rule out Van Dijk’s header “was arrived at for subjective reasons.”
The Dutchman headed in what he thought was an equaliser for Liverpool as he powered Mohamed Salah’s corner into the goal. He ran off to celebrate only for the linesman to rule the goal out for an offside against Andy Robertson - 13 seconds after the ball hit the back of the net.
Liverpool refute explanation for disallowed goal against Man City
VAR Michael Oliver checked the decision and confirmed the on-field call. The Premier League Match Centre explained: “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.”
Robertson was in an offside position but the rule around offside states that a player must be in the goalkeeper’s eyeline or make an “obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.”
Gianluigi Donnarumma dived to make the save but was unable to reach the ball. The report from The Athletic adds: “The PGMOL claimed that Robertson was “deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper”. However, having scrutinised all available footage from multiple angles, senior Liverpool figures reject that Donnarumma’s view was in any way impeded by the presence of the Scottish left-back on the basis that he was clearly not in his line of vision.”
Liverpool also believe that “the usual checks and balances” for a VAR decision did not take place and a different outcome may have been reached if they were applied. Liverpool’s contact with the PGMOL appears to centre around the VAR process and those in charge of the game at Stockley Park.
Liverpool record with Michael Oliver in charge
The decision to allow the goal to stand has ramped up scrutiny around Oliver. He has taken charge of 67 games involving Liverpool, with the Reds winning 31, drawing 21 and losing 15. He has sent off two Liverpool players in those games, with 105 cautions.
Last season Arne Slot was sent off after the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park after angrily confronting Oliver as the Toffees scored a last-minute equaliser.
Oliver has refereed Arsenal, Everton and Manchester City 62 times in his career. Liverpool is the team he has officiated most. For Arsenal they have won 31 of 62 games involving Oliver, with 13 draws and 18 losses. They have been issued eight red cards by Oliver in those matches and 109 yellows.
Everton have seen seven players sent off by Oliver in 62 matches and 106 have been booked, with the Toffees winning 22 games with the official in charge. They have drawn the other 21 and lost 19.
Man City have won 45 of the 62 games in which Oliver has been referee, drawing six and losing 11. They have been handed 92 yellow cards with zero red cards.
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