Liverpool’s 3–0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday came with major controversy, as a refereeing decision led the club to file a formal complaint to PGMOL, journalist James Pearce reports.
In the first half, Virgil van Dijk seemed to equalize with a header from a corner, but the goal was later cancelled after a VAR review. Officials ruled that Andy Robertson, who was in an offside position, affected the play.
Liverpool Contact PGMOL Over Van Dijk Goal Decision
According to Pearce, Liverpool have reached out to PGMOL expressing “serious concerns” over the decision. He claims the explanation provided “doesn’t add up,” leading the club to seek clarification from referees’ chief Howard Webb.
Liverpool dispute that Robertson obstructed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. They argue that although Robertson was offside, he neither blocked the keeper’s view nor attempted to play the ball, referencing Law 11 of the IFAB rulebook, which states that offside should only be called when a player in that position actively interferes.
The disallowed goal came at a key moment. At 1–0 down, Van Dijk’s equalizer could have shifted the momentum, but instead Man City quickly scored again through Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku later added a third in Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th match as a manager. The assistant referee initially flagged offside, and while VAR reviewed the incident, they upheld the on-field decision.
It’s unclear how PGMOL will respond, though they have acknowledged mistakes in previous cases when deemed appropriate.
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