Liverpool felt Benjamin Sesko's controversial goal for Manchester United should have been disallowed, and it's not the first time the Reds have found themselves on the wrong end of such a call
20:33, 05 May 2026
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher(Image: Sky Sports)
The fallout from Benjamin Sesko’s controversial goal against Liverpool continues, with fans pointing to another incident nearly nine years ago as evidence why it should have been disallowed.
The Reds of course saw their Champions League hopes dented when they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday. Although they remain on course for at least a top-five finish, a win or even a draw at Old Trafford would have strengthened their position heading into the final three games of the season.
Kobbie Mainoo’s winner settled the scores after Liverpool had fought back from 2-0 down to level through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, but it’s Sesko’s first-half goal that has proved to be the major talking point.
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The former RB Leipzig star doubled the hosts’ lead as the ball rebounded in off him from Freddie Woodman’s attempt to palm away Bruno Fernandes’ cross. Replays though showed the ball brushing off Sesko’s fingers before bouncing across the goal line.
Despite a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood, which has split pundits and fans on whether the right decision was made, with former United captain Roy Keane among those who has insisted that it was.
This isn’t the first time that Liverpool has found itself on the wrong side of such a call though, and fans have been quick to dig out former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher’s comments following a similar incident during a goalless draw with West Brom back in December 2017.
On that occasion, Liverpool was denied a late winner after the ball lightly touched Dominic Solanke’s hand before going in, with Gallagher adamant that the right decision had been made.
Liverpool's English striker Dominic Solanke (C) puts the ball in the net but it is disallowed for hand-ball during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2017
Dominic Solanke saw his goal for Liverpool against West Brom disallowed for handball(Image: Getty Images)
“It did go off his arm and go in,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “There's no doubt about that because it changes direction.
“I think the problem for referees is the moral dilemma that it isn't acceptable to score with the hand or the arm. It just doesn't sit right.
“I use the term 'moral dilemma' because in law a handball has to be deliberate, but it doesn't sit right for it to go in off the hand and it doesn't look right. It's not permissible to score with the hand anyway in law, so you are covered in that department.
“It has gone in off his arm, whether he likes it or not. It has flicked up and it's quite clear that it goes in off his arm because it changes direction. I don't think the referee has got any other choice but to disallow the goal.
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“That just shows how difficult it is to be a referee because one manager says he's very brave and one manager says he's incorrect. I think, and most other football supporters and referees would think, he's got that absolutely right.”
Fast forward to 2026, and Gallagher had this to say about Sesko’s goal, and the time it took for a replay showing that the ball had come off his hand.
"Twenty-two minutes later, we get that angle,” Gallagher said. “You can't wait that long at the time. They thought it was inconclusive but that angle tells a different story.
"You think, is it going to be a goal or is it not? Then we get that angle.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United scores their side's second goal past Freddie Woodman of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Benjamin Sesko's goal stood despite replays showing the ball brushing his hand(Image: Getty Images)
"When you watch it at real time, the closest person to it which is Virgil van Dijk, he just thinks it's a goal. He doesn't react.
"You're guessing. Has the ball hit his fingers? The referee is hamstrung as it is a law with zero tolerance but people look at it and interpret as they want."
Although Van Dijk might not have reacted at the time, Arne Slot and his coaching staff were much more convinced as they remonstrated with the fourth official on the touchline.
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“If it was a touch, which I think it is, because if you know a bit about a ball sport, you know that if a ball has a certain curve and the curve changes, there must have been contact – but it’s always light,” Slot said after the game.
“Then we should have a debate in football, is that then enough to disallow a goal? But I think the rule is if there was a touch it should have been disallowed.”