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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says lessons were learned at the PGMOL over the international break — with Liverpool missing out as a result.
Earlier this month, Virgil van Dijk saw his header chalked off against Manchester City because Andy Robertson was deemed to have interfered with play while being in an offside position. He was inside the six-yard box, not in the line of vision of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the on-field decision stood after a VAR check.
This weekend, Nottingham Forest scored a similar goal when Dan Ndoye appeared to be in an offside position. However, it was decided on this occasion that the forward didn't get in the way of Alisson Becker.
"The difference is Robertson moves," Gallagher said on Sky Sports. "He moves to the ball.
"Last week, it was said the Liverpool goal should have been a goal. This week, two have been given as goals. You could say everyone has looked and learnt.
"If you want consistency, every goal would be disallowed. They have actually recognized and thought, in this situation, the more acceptable situation is a goal. They have actually given people what they want."
Consistency, though, would see either both goals given or both goals ruled out. In the spirit of the law, both should have stood, with Liverpool making its grievance clear to PGMOL after the game at the Etihad Stadium.
While the Reds acknowledged that they were firmly second best on that occasion, a goal to make the game 1-1 just before half-time would have altered the mood substantially.
"During the game, people told me he was in an onside position, so that's why I wasn't worried at all," Slot said during his post-match press conference following the defeat to Nottingham Forest.
"Was he in an offside position? Is that 100 per cent sure? Then I have to see it back. Because I heard immediately that he was onside, I didn't check what the line of vision was. Now, I haven't had time to see it back, if he was in the line of vision.
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"I've seen us conceding three goals this season, against Atletico [Madrid] two and against [Eintracht] Frankfurt one, that were more in the line of vision of the goalkeeper than the one we scored at [Manchester] City, but I think no one wants to hear from me now talking about refereeing decisions.
"If you lose 3-0 against Forest, then I should first of all look at myself and my team instead of that. It does show you how a set-piece or a goal can change momentum and can change the game, because before we conceded the 1-0, I was just waiting for us to score a goal. Afterwards, we hardly created any chances anymore."
Liverpool.com says: While the Reds' current run of form is very bad, they have seen things go against them. The Van Dijk goal wouldn't have led to any points being collected, in all likelihood. However, things could have been different against Nottingham Forest.
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