Premier League Clarifies as VAR Overturns Two Decisions in Fulham vs Liverpool

 

 

Harry Wilson and Florian Wirtz both had goals initially ruled out for offside at Craven Cottage, but VAR later overturned the decisions to award the goals.

Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz scored to make it 1-1 on Sunday, only for the offside flag to go up. He had been set up by Conor Bradley in the box and appeared offside, with the linesman raising his flag. Wirtz did not protest, and it seemed Liverpool would be denied for a second time after Cody Gakpo’s earlier disallowed goal.

However, after a lengthy review, VAR confirmed Wirtz was onside when the ball was played in the 57th minute. The Premier League explained: “VAR checked the referee’s no-goal decision, confirmed Wirtz was onside, and recommended the goal be awarded.” Former Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer admitted on BBC Radio 5 Live that, frame by frame, it looked offside, calling it “a strange one.”

VAR had also intervened earlier in the match for Harry Wilson’s first-half goal. Wilson had given Fulham the lead in the 17th minute from Raul Jimenez’s pass, but the goal was initially ruled out for offside. Following a VAR review, it was confirmed that Virgil van Dijk had left Wilson onside as the last defender, and the goal stood.

Both decisions were extremely tight calls, but VAR ensured the correct calls were made after the assistant referee’s initial errors.