Liverpool Query VAR After Controversial Van Dijk Goal Disallowed Against Manchester City

Liverpool have officially contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to register their concern over the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk’s goal during their 3–0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.

The incident occurred in the first half when the Reds believed they had equalized after Erling Haaland’s opener. Van Dijk rose highest to head home from a corner, but the assistant referee flagged offside, claiming that Andy Robertson, who was in an offside position, obstructed the vision of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

VAR official Michael Oliver upheld the on-field decision, ruling that Robertson was “making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper.”

However, reports from ESPN suggest that Liverpool strongly disagree with the interpretation. The club argues that the wording of Law 11, which defines offside offences, was not properly applied — insisting that none of the criteria for active interference were met. After reviewing all available footage, Liverpool maintain that Donnarumma’s line of sight was not impeded in any meaningful way.

Opinion: VAR’s ‘Subjective Clarity’ Once Again in Question

Here we go again — another weekend, another VAR controversy.

Liverpool’s frustration is entirely understandable. In a game where margins matter, moments like Van Dijk’s disallowed goal can change the course of a match — and perhaps even a title race. What fans and clubs alike are struggling with is consistency.

The decision to rule out the goal felt more like an interpretation than a clear infraction. Was Robertson really blocking the goalkeeper’s vision, or was it just a convenient justification for a marginal call? The truth is, fans no longer trust VAR to deliver fairness — it has become a tool that breeds confusion rather than clarity.

For a club like Liverpool, who were already facing a difficult night against a ruthless Manchester City side, seeing a legitimate equalizer chalked off only deepens the wound.

At this point, one thing is clear — football’s biggest problem isn’t the lack of technology; it’s how the technology is being used.