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As Liverpool supporters examine the debris from Sunday's devastating 3-0 loss at Manchester City, the detailed scrutiny of Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off goal continues to intensify.
With City ahead 1-0 courtesy of an Erling Haaland header midway through the opening period, Liverpool found the back of the net and appeared to have drawn level. Van Dijk's thunderous header defeated Gianluigi Donnarumma, and the Liverpool skipper departed in celebration.
Donnarumma seemed to have no opportunity of preventing the ball from nestling in the net, but City's shot-stopper instantly indicated that Andy Robertson - positioned offside - had made a movement across the goalmouth before withdrawing. The assistant referee identified the offside infringement, lifting his flag.
Referee Chris Kavanagh agreed, and the goal was contentiously disallowed. This prompted uproar in the visiting section and along the sideline, as Arne Slot understandably expressed displeasure with the verdict. "It's obvious and clear the wrong decision was made," the Liverpool manager contended after the match.
Slot additionally referenced how City had been granted a 95th-minute winner in comparable circumstances last campaign against Wolves - likewise when Kavanagh was officiating. However, what the Liverpool boss might not recall is that there exists another instance of Kavanagh being central to a similar incident, and contrary to when City defeated Wolves, the goal was ruled out.
Everton 1-1 Man Utd, 2019/20, goal disallowed
In the final moments of the March 2020 showdown between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park, a late goal by the hosts was disallowed for offside. Dominic Calvert-Lewin's shot ricocheted toward the goal, with Gylfi Sigurdsson - in an offside position - stepping aside to let the ball pass him and beat David de Gea.
United was incensed, contending that Sigurdsson had interfered with play. VAR came to the rescue of the Red Devils, and the goal was subsequently annulled by the technology. Calvert-Lewin branded the decision a "disaster" - while Carlo Ancelotti received a red card for his heated exchange with referee Kavanagh.
Wolves 1-2 Man City, 2024/25, goal allowed
Now, onto the incident that Slot brought up. In the fifth minute of stoppage time at Molineux last October, John Stones clinched all three points for City, much to the chagrin of Wolves.
On the pitch, Stones' header was initially ruled out due to Bernardo Silva obstructing Jose Sa's line of sight, but Kavanagh ended up awarding the goal after consulting the pitch-side monitor. As the ball hurtled towards Sa and into the net, Silva ducked.
The Premier League started providing real-time updates for VAR decisions in 2024. A post from the 'Match Centre' account on social media platform X read: "Stones' goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper's line of vision.
"The VAR deemed Bernardo Silva wasn't in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision, and a goal was awarded."
Man City 3-0 Liverpool, 2025/26, goal disallowed
Finally, we come to Kavanagh's third and most recent controversy. We've laid out the events, now let's see what the 'Match Centre' had to say.
"The referee's call of offside and 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," the post read.
In the end, it's a subjective call and one that has seen Kavanagh face a barrage of criticism. Officials are advised to leave subjective offside decisions to VAR, which ultimately stuck with the referee's on-field decision.
On Tuesday, fans will hear from Howard Webb, head of the PGMOL.
Webb is expected to discuss the incident on the upcoming episode of 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' - and Liverpool supporters will undoubtedly be tuning in, as they head into the international break pondering what could have been.
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