It was a cold, tense afternoon at the Etihad Stadium. The stands were packed, the roar was deafening, and two of England’s football giants — Manchester City and Liverpool — stood face-to-face for another fierce battle in their long-running rivalry.
Yet no one in Manchester could have predicted that one moment, one decision, would ignite a storm that would shake the Premier League.
This was the day Virgil van Dijk’s thunderous header seemed to draw Liverpool level — only for VAR to take it away. It was the day fans once again questioned what “offside” truly means in football.
The first half had already been filled with intensity and emotion. Pep Guardiola’s City looked as sharp as ever, striking first in the 29th minute through Erling Haaland — the Norwegian machine who rarely misses.
It was trademark Haaland: cold, clinical, unstoppable. The Etihad erupted in celebration as he raised his arms to the sky.
Liverpool looked stunned but far from finished. On the sidelines, Arne Slot, Klopp’s successor, urged calm and composure. With leaders like Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk on the field, a comeback felt possible.
Then came the 38th minute — the flashpoint. Liverpool earned a corner. The noise faded for a moment as Salah prepared to deliver. He sent in a perfect curling cross toward the near post.
Van Dijk broke free from his marker, soared above the crowd, and powered a header past Donnarumma into the top corner.
It was a captain’s goal — strong, commanding, and brilliant. The Liverpool players erupted in joy, fans screamed in triumph, and Van Dijk celebrated fiercely.
But within seconds, confusion struck. The assistant referee’s flag was raised. The cheers turned to disbelief. Van Dijk stared in shock, arms spread wide in protest.
Andy Robertson, positioned near the goal line, looked just as puzzled. The referee called for VAR, and the stadium held its breath. Minutes passed like hours. Then came the decision: goal disallowed — offside.
Robertson was judged to have interfered with play from an offside position. The Liverpool end gasped, while City fans celebrated the reprieve.
Van Dijk’s joy turned to anger as he trudged back to midfield. Arne Slot stood in silence, then shook his head in frustration.
Later, he voiced his disbelief in a post-match interview. “It’s clear the wrong call was made,” he said. “Robertson didn’t interfere — the goalkeeper had a full view.”
Replays painted a divisive picture. Robertson stood in front of Donnarumma, back to goal, and ducked as Van Dijk’s header flew over him. To Liverpool, it was smart positioning; to the officials, it was obstruction.
Citing Law 11 of the game’s rulebook — the clause about offside interference — VAR deemed that Robertson’s movement “clearly impacted the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball.”
And just like that, one moment of brilliance became one of the most debated calls of the season.
