There are moments after a game where you’re left wanting clarity, and for us, that second Manchester United goal has only become more frustrating the more it’s been explained.
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Following the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, the Premier League have now issued their official verdict on the Sesko handball incident.
Premier League explain VAR decision
Posting via their Match Centre account during the game, the league outlined exactly why the goal was allowed to stand despite the lengthy review.
“#MUNLIV – 14’ The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed there was no conclusive evidence that Sesko handled the ball before scoring.”
That wording is key, because it doesn’t say there was no contact, only that there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision.
For many of us watching the replays, that’s where the frustration lies, because the ball’s movement appeared to change after making contact with the striker.
Liverpool left frustrated despite explanation
The explanation might clarify the process, but it doesn’t necessarily make the outcome any easier to accept.
Former referee Keith Hackett has already pointed to the law itself, stating: “The law states that you cannot score a goal with your hand, even if considered accidental.”
That interpretation seems at odds with what we saw, particularly given the circumstances of the goal, with our third-choice goalkeeper inadvertently diverting the ball onto the hand of an attacker before it crossed the line.
At the same time, it’s fair to acknowledge that the goal didn’t come out of nowhere, because we put ourselves in a vulnerable position in the first place.
Jamie Carragher summed that up in his analysis, saying: “That goal… you talk about Liverpool’s season. They’ve been popping the ball about but they can’t cope with the counterattack.”
That balance is important, because while the decision feels like another one that’s gone against us, it also sits within a wider pattern of mistakes and moments we haven’t managed well enough.
Still, when the official explanation hinges on “no conclusive evidence” rather than confirming there was no contact, it’s understandable why many of us feel hard done to once again.
I feel this is it for Slot,for heaven’s sake the starting 11 was wrong why didn’t Ngomuha start and Chiesa with Salah out we didn’t have a out and out attacker up front, out midfield is weak where man utd’s midfield play progressive ,we go from side to side and then backwards playing Wirtz out wide or middle upfront is a losing case ,its clear our manager don’t know what to do please get rid of this man, Charlton Neelse ,Capetown,South Africa
Well said, it’s true, he’s a clueless manager
The goal should have been disallowed as the final touch was off his hand & also Bruno should have seen a red card for foul on Dom but what do you expect when it’s Manchester Utd Atwell on VAR Darren England as ref
Regarding the foul on Dom, notice although Neville said it was bad, he never called for a red or even a VAR review of it. He always does if the foul is on a United player. The VAR officials in Stockley Park can no doubt hear his comments and can be influenced by them
Spot on. Same old story.
The ref made several poor decisions during the game the hand ball was one the other the foul on frimpong the ref said it was a coming together when clearly the player was taken out before the ball was near and ends up in a heap on the floor the third and the clearest mistake was the studs up on Sobs by Fernades never was that a yellow card Red all day long. Poor is an under statement
Darren England has a reputation of poor calls against Liverpool. He was put in today to make sure that Liverpool get no further up the league. Attwell, just say no more… one day the Premier League and PGMOL will recognize that biased decisions don’t make a game. They embarrass the league worldwide.
I have a couple of issues. The first is that the ball clearly hit the hand as it 1 changes direction, and 2 the spin alters, so why was the ref not called over to see the footage
The second is how many times have we fallen behind this season, and the manager’s response has been to take off a CB and move to 3 at the back and the result has always been the same but never has he moved to 3 at the back and played VVD as a striker, which has worked for the Dutch time and again
It was clear last season that he wanted to change the play and Salah in particular, but Salah pushed back and had his best season, and we won the title. But this year, he has changed Salah’s role, and we are seeing the season we would have had last season if he had had his way. It’s obvious that his role at the club has been to break up Klopp’s team, and that will be complete at the end of the season. Next season will be another right off if they stick with him, and we will have lost the chance to bring in most people’s favourite for the manager’s role, and the fans will turn massively on FSG, and all that unity built under Klopp will have disappeared and its not Rodgers that his term is similar to as the media like to push as a comparison but more Hodgson in my eyes a nice fella but the job isn’t the right fit for him and he will move on to a suitable club and do well again and i’d wish him well but we cant run the risk of the club exploding under him
This season has been similar to Rodger’s final full season, although that one was worse as we finished outside the champions league position and ended up in the Europa League But think on this, if FSG had sacked Rodger’s at any time during that final full season or even at the seasons end, who would we have brought in as manager? Instead FSG bided their time and made their move in the October international break. Klopp had had a few months off and even tho he had wanted a longer break he and his wife thought they couldn’t pass up the chance to come to Liverpool. And before you say we will miss out on Alonso if we wait any longer, there is nothing to suggest he is the ideal man for the job of Liverpool manager. He had one fantastic and unreal season in Germany then dipped the following season before moving to Madrid after apparently turning us down before we opted for Slot. His time in Madrid was short and not very sweet. I think FSG have got their eyes on a different manager and are waiting for the right moment to move. But until that time I believe they will stick with Slot and if that takes us into next season then that’s how it has to be to get their eyes right man in
Agree re Alonso, would prefer Iraola if Slot were to go (which he isn’t)
Re “similar to Rodger’s final full season” the difference is that Rodgers had had time to change the squad and work with them while Slot hasn’t. This is the season that was expected last year, lots of change and a mish mash of results and performances, made even worse by awful injuries to key players. Even with a shit season we’ve (just about) qualified for CL so not all bad. Rodgers had put the foundations in for Klopp with Hendo, Firmino, Coutinho, Milner, Origi, Lallana, Lovgren etc now Slot has the foundations of his squad with Isak Wirtz Kerkez etc and more to come.. The real test is next year…
that was a pure goal.
good decision from the VAR.
As Liverpool supporter of over 50 years, regardless of the rules, it would have been a travesty if the goal was ruled out for an irrelevant ‘finger nail ball’!!
Far more comment worthy is VvD’s ball watching allowing Sesko to get goal side of him. If he had been more alert the question wouldn’t have arisen and the balance of play would be different..
PS interesting that ManU feel CL qualification as a major achievement while Liverpool feel qualification alone is a shit season !! Says everything about the relative levels the clubs are at..
It was a goal… get over yourselves…