Liverpool slumped to a 3-2 defeat to rivals Manchester United but their second goal controversially stood
Benjamin Sesko scores a goal for Manchester United against Liverpool
Benjamin Sesko scored a controversial goal for Manchester United against Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have slammed the decision to award Benjamin Sesko's goal for Manchester United against Liverpool. Sesko's effort, the Red Devils' second of the game, struck the Slovenian's hand before trickling in and despite a lenghty VAR check, the goal stood.
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Reds goalkeeper Freddie Woodman parried Bruno Fernandes' header onto the United striker and as it bounces upwards, close-up footage appears to demonstrate that the ball makes contact with Sesko's fingers. The former Newcastle United frontman conceded that he would prefer not to see such goals chalked off but believed that if the regulation exists it must be enforced.
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According to IFAB rules, a goal must be disallowed if an attacker scores directly with their hand or arm, even if the contact is accidental, or immediately after the ball touches their hand or arm. Nevertheless, the officials at Stockley Park permitted the goal following a prolonged review.
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On the BBC's Match of the Day 2, Shearer said: "I thought it was handball. I don't want to see these goals disallowed, right, I think the handball law is a complete nonsense anyway and this law as well.
"But, in terms of consistency and applying the law correctly, I think me and Micah (Richards) agreed straight away that we both said 'that has hit his hand'.
"You can see the motion of the ball move because it hits his left hand there.
"It's only a slight touch, I get that and as I said, I don't want to see them disallowed, but when they are applying the law and that is what they say, 'if it hits any part of your hand and you're the goalscorer it should be disallowed' and that should have been disallowed."
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He continued: "We are at this stage, this is where we are at now. This is where they have got us, we are actually debating whether it has flicked onto his finger unintentionally.
"It's like, come on, that's the state the game and the laws are in now, it's ridiculous isn't it?"
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards agreed that while the regulation verges on absurd, during crucial moments it ought to be adhered to.
He said: "It's there for us all to see. The motion of the ball changed, didn't it? And that's what you need to look at.
"Like Alan said, we don't want to see goals given away for this when we are talking about fingernails or whatever, but the law is 'if it comes off your hand' which it clearly did in our view, the goal should not have been given. It is as simple as that."
Liverpool rallied in the second period with Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo finding the net to overturn the Champions League encounter. Two rapid goals hauled them level at a point when Arne Slot's side appeared well and truly beaten after a dismal first-half performance.
However, Kobbie Mainoo netted the decisive winner to secure their place in next season's premier European competition. It leaves Liverpool six points off the Red Devils going into the final three matches of the season.
Reds boss Slot said: “If it is a touch it is never a lot of course. If it was a touch, it should have been disallowed. I want to focus on how we conceded that second goal, because that's where we can do better."