Liverpool contact PGMOL over disallowed goal in Man City loss – sources

LIVERPOOL, England – Liverpool have contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to express formal concerns over the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk’s first-half goal during Sunday’s 3–0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, according to club sources.

The Dutch defender appeared to have equalized shortly before halftime when he headed in from a corner, but the goal was ruled out after Andy Robertson — positioned in front of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma — was deemed to have interfered with play. VAR official Michael Oliver upheld the on-field ruling, citing obstruction of the goalkeeper’s line of vision.

The Premier League’s match centre later clarified on social media that Robertson had been “making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper,” thus meeting the criteria for an offside offence under Law 11.

However, sources familiar with Liverpool’s stance said the club disputes that interpretation, arguing that none of the specific conditions required to penalize an offside player were met. After reviewing all available broadcast angles, Liverpool maintain that Donnarumma’s view of the ball was not impeded by Robertson’s positioning.

The club’s correspondence with PGMOL is expected to seek further explanation and consistency in the application of offside interpretations involving active and passive interference. Liverpool have previously called for greater transparency in the league’s officiating review process.

Sunday’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium left Arne Slot’s side eighth in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal. The decision to disallow Van Dijk’s goal came at a pivotal moment, and Liverpool officials are understood to believe that such calls could have a significant bearing on the title race as the season progresses.