Liverpool critics and conspiracy theorists are missing the point over Howard Webb complaint

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Liverpool have come under fire for questioning the process that saw Virgil van Dijk have a goal disallowed at Manchester City on SundayThere are few things more tedious in football than debate over a controversial refereeing decision. And rarely does such seemingly interminable chatter ever lead to a general consensus.Liverpool became embroiled in the latest such example on Sunday afternoon when what would have been a first-half equaliser from Virgil van Dijk in their eventual 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City was contentiously chalked off with Andy Robertson deemed to be interfering with play in an offside position.Not many agreed with the decision, with the Reds going as far as to contact referees' body PGMOL to express significant concerns over how the decision was reached.READ MORE: Alexander Isak issue now clear as five Liverpool players give Arne Slot serious worryREAD MORE: Liverpool winger sends transfer reminder after marathon 24-penalty shoot-outIt was convenient timing, then, that PGMOL bigwig Howard Webb was due on camera on Tuesday evening for the latest edition of box-office staple Match Officials Mic'd Up with former Liverpool striker Michael Owen.Webb's insistence it was "not unreasonable" for the officials to disallow the goal did little to assuage the feeling of disgruntlement among those in the club and the fanbase that the goal should have stood.For the Reds to contact the PGMOL in such a manner is unusual.

Unlike some other clubs with email always at the ready, they keep their powder dry for decisions that often result in opening up a wider conversation.Such was the case in September 2023 in the wake of Luis Diaz failing to have a goal register on the scoresheet at Tottenham Hotspur despite it being permitted following a VAR check.Only the myopically biased could claim Liverpool didn't have good reason to complain about that incident, and it prompted a change in how VAR communicated during incidents."Broadcasting the most egregious error – to disallow a valid goal despite an incorrect offside decision at Tottenham against Liverpool in 2023 – proved a watershed moment that prompted a more professional approach," said former referee Graham Scott, speaking in The Telegraph. "That should not have been necessary, granted, but it is the truth."As if to show the progress, the comms on the City-Liverpool offside decision could not be more clear, calm and concise."Liverpool knew quite well their complaint wouldn't alter the result, a dismal defeat that Arne Slot afterwards readily accepted was well deserved after a dire first-half performance.

This is about questioning the process - as they successfully did two years ago - and ensuring there is clarity and consistency going forward with such decisions.Manchester City's late winner at Wolves last season - which was almost universally received as being correctly allowed to stand - is the obvious comparison.Indeed, most clubs can point to occasions when they have been left baffled and unamused by the interpretation of the offside rule.At the risk of becoming the old man shouting at a cloud, in previous times the goal would instantly have been disallowed without any complaint given where Robertson was stood.Those past days, though, have long gone given the constant tinkering with the offside rule. That is beyond dispute.But their upset at losing a goal on Sunday could in the future become their gain - and those of their rivals - should their complaint encourage such offside calls to be more objective than subjective and become more consistent as a consequence.