Chaotic scenes as Wolves’ late winner was ruled out by VAR at Anfield, with ‘NO camera angle’ to overturn an offside decision, causing mass confusion… but the linesman did the RIGHT thing decision
- Wolves had a late winner decided in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool
- Toti Gomes appeared to settle the epic cup tie with a last-gasp back-heel
- But his goal was disallowed for offside awarded in the build up
- Despite the confusion, VAR had no evidence to overrule the decision on the field
- That caused confusion among the masses but the officials’ call appears to have been correct
Confusion erupted at Anfield and online following Liverpool’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Wolves after Toti Gomes’ last-minute winner was ruled offside.
There was chaos when a Wolves defender put the ball back into the net following a scramble inside the penalty area, but the match officials quickly ruled out his goal for offside in the build up to the goal.
Mike Dean, who was the VAR referee for the game, was called into action, but could not find any clear and obvious reason to overturn the decision on the field, which had ‘uncertain camera angles’ to check for offside, and according to PGMOL’s advice, the officials were right not to reverse the decision.
Toti Gomes (right)’s last-minute winner against Liverpool was controversially disallowed on Saturday
Gomes looked to have back-heeled Wolves to a sensational win but for an offside call
But the officials were right to disallow the goal after Matheus Nunes was ruled offside in the build up
The PGMOL guidelines state: ‘The key element here is the assistant referee on the field, who is able to look at the player as a whole (unlike TV cameras). [Matheus Nunes] (who returns after taking a corner) in an offside position when the ball is played back to him.
That’s the on-field call – offside. There is no evidence for the VAR to say the assistant referee was wrong.’
After taking a corner in the build up to the goal, Nunes dropped back to collect the ball, playing himself offside before sweeping in the resulting cross that led to Toti’s disallowed goal.
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui was furious after the final whistle to confront the officials
While the officials made the right decision, fans were left at home and in the stadium confused as to why VAR came to its final result.
Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, animated on the sidelines after the goal was initially ruled offside, was still angry at why there was no explanation from the officials and why Mohamed Salah’s goal was also not ruled offside.
VAR is tricky with no camera angle to overturn an on field decision that is offside
‘To talk about the two goals, the offside they had,’ the Wolves boss said at full-time.
‘We saw and it didn’t exist, an offside. Impossible but someone told him it was offside. We saw the image and it didn’t exist.
‘The second goal for Liverpool was the same. The rule in Europe, I think we have to talk a lot with the referees about this kind of situation.
‘It’s a shame because we deserve to win today. We need to recover for a very difficult match against Nottingham Forest.’
Alisson Becker gave Wolves an early lead in the match by not putting a pass outfield
Darwin Nunez (left) soon leveled for the Reds before Mohamed Salah netted their second
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp rejected claims the goal should have stood, saying: ‘I’m not sure about their third goal.
‘We have a picture where it might look offside, but I understand why they are upset about it. We don’t want VAR to have just one angle.’
Even Emile Heskey and Eniola Aluko in the pundits box were critical of the decision-making process that led to the disallowed goal.
‘We’re sitting in the studio trying to figure it out ourselves and we get it after 10 minutes.’ Heskey said.
‘In the crowd, they also think. Even on the bench, ‘No, no no’. As far as they could see, it was a good goal.’
Aluko agreed: ‘Whatever the decision, it’s all state of the art stadiums with screens everywhere. Just show it on the screen. Just put on the screen why the decision was made and it removes all the questions.’
