(Image) Liverpool fans may have wished VAR was in effect on Saturday as fairytale moment denied
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Liverpool Fans Lament No VAR as Ngumoha's Fairytale Goal Disallowed in 3-0 Brighton Win
In a dominant 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on February 14, 2026, Liverpool advanced to the fifth round, but the match's talking point was a controversial disallowed goal by teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha.[1][2][3]
Liverpool controlled the game from the outset, with their lineup featuring stars like Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, and Federico Chiesa. Substitutes included Ngumoha, Hugo Ekitike, and others.[1] Early chances included a blocked shot from Salah in the 11th minute and a handball call on Gakpo at 14'.[1]
The highlight came late when Ngumoha, the 17-year-old academy prospect, came off the bench and rifled a brilliant finish into the Kop end, sparking wild celebrations among fans dreaming of a fairytale moment.[2][3] However, the assistant referee's offside flag swiftly disallowed it. Replays showed the call was wrong, with Ngumoha onside, leading to frustration among supporters who wished VAR was in effect for this cup tie, unlike Premier League games.[2][3]
Despite the denied goal, Liverpool's win was convincing, with manager Arne Slot's gamble on youth paying off in other areas, like Curtis Jones' strong performance.[3][4] Pundits praised Ngumoha's composure, noting his finish displayed maturity beyond his years, though his involvement stemmed from the experimental lineup.[3]
Fans took to social media, bemoaning the lack of video technology that robbed them of a memorable Anfield moment. The result books Liverpool's progression, but the "what if" of Ngumoha's goal lingers, highlighting ongoing VAR debates in cup competitions.[1][4]
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