The written reason Virgil van Dijk goal was disallowed

Virgil van Dijk's goal against Manchester City was disallowed due to an offside call against his teammate Andrew Robertson, not Van Dijk himself. The Premier League confirmed that while Van Dijk headed the ball into the net to level the score, Robertson was in an offside position and was judged to be making an “obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper” Gianluigi Donnarumma. This decision was upheld after a thorough VAR check despite debate over whether Robertson actually obstructed the goalkeeper's view.

Replays showed Robertson ducking as the ball went over him, which many argue did not block Donnarumma’s line of sight. Commentators and Liverpool staff expressed frustration, noting that Donnarumma appeared to have a clear view and likely could not have saved the header anyway. The Premier League’s statement focused on the interpretation that Robertson’s proximity and active movement amounted to interfering with the goalkeeper, aligning with the offside law that considers a player “in active play” if they prevent an opponent from playing the ball.

This ruling came during a frustrating match for Liverpool, where the disallowed goal could have been a crucial equalizer before Manchester City extended their lead. Shortly after the goal was ruled out, City increased their advantage through a goal by Nico González, which deflected off Van Dijk, followed by Jeremy Doku’s goal, leading to a 3-0 defeat—their worst Premier League loss under manager Arne Slot.

The decision ignited strong reactions from fans and Liverpool's bench, with coach Arne Slot visibly upset on the sidelines. The incident highlights ongoing controversies around VAR decisions and the interpretation of offside involving secondary players near the goalkeeper in the Premier League.