Roy Keane has pointed the blame at Liverpool defender Andy Robertson for Virgil van Dijk’s controversial disallowed goal in the first half against Manchester City.
Van Dijk thought he had equalised for his side when he headed in Mohamed Salah’s corner, only for the referee to blow up for an offside offence – which saw Robertson run in front of the goal.
The Scot did not touch the ball, but ducked out the way, with fans split on whether the goal should have stood considering City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma seemed to see the ball all the way into the net.
Keane, though, disagreed, saying that it was rightly ruled out and that Robertson is to blame. He said on Sky Sports: ‘Excellent header, Robertson has got to get out quicker. Liverpool fans will be disappointed but you have to reward City for coming out.
‘I still don’t think the goalkeeper would have saved it, but he is still in line with ball. The keeper probably sees it, but Robertson has to get out quicker.’
The Premier League Match Centre said in a social media post: ‘The referee’s call of offside an no goal to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Robertson in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper.’
Roy Keane has pointed the blame at one Liverpool star after Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header was controversially ruled out for offside
Andy Robertson was adjudged to have impacted Gianluigi Donnarumma’s ability to play the ball when he ducked out of the way
Keane praised the header but said it was the right decision to not allow the strike to stand
The official laws surrounding offside, meanwhile, state that a player will be penalised if they are ‘making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball’, among other less-relevant rules.
Micah Richards, meanwhile, stood firm on the view that the wrong decision was still made.
He said: ‘No, I wouldn’t agree with that. It’s harsh, yes the defender trying to catch him but the keeper can see it all of the way.
‘Rules are rules so I can understand why they have taken it away, but think it’s harsh.’
It was one of a number of blows for Liverpool in the game. They had first conceded a penalty after Giorgi Mamardashvili tripped Jeremy Doku – only for Erling Haaland to see his effort saved.
Van Dijk’s header was then ruled out, before Nico Gonzalez added a second for City just before half-time.
In the second half, Doku scored himself to ensure Liverpool were on their way to going into the international break on the back of a defeat.
