Browsing: Denied

Liverpool were denied an equaliser in the first half of their meeting with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in a decision that proved contentious.

The hosts went a goal ahead through Erling Haaland, having missed a penalty earlier in the half, but the Reds thought they’d got one back just under 10 minutes later when Virgil van Dijk nodded home a Mohamed Salah corner.

It wasn’t to be, however, with the fourth official quickly declaring offside and chalking the goal off, a decision both referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR agreed with.

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The rule that denied Liverpool an equaliser against Manchester City

Andy Robertson was judged to be offside despite not touching the ball (Image credit: Getty Images)

Left-back Andy Robertson was the offending party, who had been left in the six-yard box as the City backline pushed up.

Van Dijk headed his effort straight at his fellow defender, but the Scotsman clearly ducked, made no contact with the ball, and it squeezed past the outstretched arm of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“I think it’s really harsh”Micah Richards and Roy Keane share their thoughts on the disallowed Liverpool goal pic.twitter.com/MqIah11v1uNovember 9, 2025

However, according to the rulebook, a player is offside, even if they don’t touch the ball, when interfering with an opponent.

One such example outlined in the laws states a player cannot make “an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”.

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While Robertson didn’t touch the ball or impede Donnarumma physically, and made every effort to get out of the way, he ducked late.

The Scotland international’s mere presence in the flight path of the ball could have created a flicker of doubt in the City gloveman’s mind about whether to dive, or hold his position to anticipate an extra touch from Robertson.

As he’s in an offside position, such an action is against the rules and the goal, therefore, cannot stand – the reasoning later confirmed by the Premier League Match Centre on X.

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Van Dijk’s disallowed goal could have changed the course of the game had it stood (Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite the officials’ justified thinking, it was still a controversial decision, as subjective offsides often are.

“No, I wouldn’t agree with that, I think it’s harsh,” pundit and former City player Micah Richards told Sky Sports. “I think the goalkeeper can see it all the way.”

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, while Donnarumma doesn’t look like he’s reaching the header with Robertson there or not, it’s difficult to quantify whether Robertson’s presence delayed his move over to his left, and what impact that may have had on the save.

It’s a tight call, but the officials were probably right on balance.

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Cristiano Ronaldo set a record for World Cup qualifying goals but the Group F leaders Portugal were denied early World Cup qualification by a late Hungary equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Two Ronaldo goals – the first his 40th in qualifying to set the landmark – put Portugal on the verge of qualification but Liverpoolâ€s Dominik Szoboszlai struck in added time to stop the celebration party in Lisbon.

Portugalâ€s next chance to confirm their place in the World Cup finals tournament next year will be against Republic of Ireland in Dublin next month.

Evan Fergusonâ€s fourth goal in five competitive internationals kept the Republic of Irelandâ€s World Cup dream alive as they edged past 10-man Armenia to claim their first Group F victory.

The head coach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, had admitted in advance that he would accept a “shitty†performance and a 1-0 win on a night when victory was the only option, and Ireland eventually delivered – if only just – as they made the most of Tigran Barseghyanâ€s senseless second-half dismissal for a headbutt on Finn Azaz.

Ferguson, who had passed up a glorious opportunity to open the scoring seconds earlier, dispatched a 70th-minute header to seal a 1-0 win at the Aviva Stadium and ensure Portugalâ€s visit to Dublin and the trip to Hungary which follows it are meaningful, if daunting.

Italy kept alive their hopes of qualifying automatically with a 3-0 win against Israel courtesy of two goals from Mateo Retegui and a late header from Gianluca Mancini in Udine. The Italians remain three points behind the Group I leaders Norway, whom they meet at home next month. The bottom two teams Estonia and Moldova drew 1-1.

England have won Group K but Serbia remain in the hunt for second place after beating Andorra 3-1 with Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic both on the scoresheet. Serbia will battle it out with Albania, one point ahead, for the runners-up spot.

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Turkey remain three points behind the Group E leaders Spain after a 4-1 win against Georgia with Merih Demiral (two), Kenan Yildiz and Yunus Akgun all on target for the hosts.

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