Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel argued with ex-referee Dermot Gallagher as they disagreed whether Liverpool’s opening goal against Aston Villa should have stood.
The Reds took a third-minute lead against their fellow European qualification hopefuls courtesy of a fine strike by Dominik Szoboszlai – his first in his new colours.
During the phase of play, Mohamed Salah began in a position close to the penalty spot marked by Matty Cash in front of the Anfield Road End. Trent Alexander-Arnold then curled in an outswinging corner which bounced through to the the far side where the unmarked £60m summer signing waited on the edge of the penalty area.
He unleashed a first-time fizzer that nestled in the right side-netting of the goal. Emiliano Martinez stood rooted to his spot, unable to make a difference, however some may say that Salah’s subtle off-the-ball movement to lose his marker and circle back around into the six-yard box blocked the Villa goalkeeper’s line of site from an offside position.
The goal underwent a customary VAR check though Darren England, the man on duty at Stockley Park today, saw no issue and chose not to take preventive action.
It was a decision that created much debate in the Premier League matchday live studio, with Ian Wright left in disbelief by the call to allow it.
Clearly in disagreement with the call while on punditry duty on Premier League matchday live show, Schmeichel said: “Mo Salah is right in his [Martinez’s] line of view. In order to see the ball he actually has to go to the other side of where the ball ends up. I don’t understand why it is not off.”
It was then explained that IFAB’s official rulebook states that the goal would only be disallowed for offside had Salah actively prevented Martinez from making an attempted save by ‘clearly’ blocking his vision. Gallagher was then prompted to explain from an official’s standpoint why England made no intervention.
“Because that’s the practice they’ve been working to this season,” he responded. “Can the goalkeeper see the shot? Yes, I think he can. Does Salah move towards the ball, or is he near or close to the ball? No.
“They feel the shot is going into the far corner and the goalkeeper can’t save the shot. This is the tactic they’ve used all season to interpret that law, and it was evident earlier in the season as we saw against Wolves and Brighton when [Pervis] Estupinan scored, [Danny] Welbeck was in an offside position, same thing happened, goal given.”
“I’m sorry, Dermot, that’s not the same. That’s a different situation,” Schmeichel retorted. “This is a very clear case of the goalkeeper not being able to see the ball!
“You talk about practice and this wording of the law, it’s very clear he’s obstructed in his view. How can referees and VAR referees then talk practice rather than the wording of what the law is?”
Clarifying his viewpoint, Gallagher said: “It’s how they interpret the law, it’s what they work to. The law said he has to impact the outcome of that decision and he has no impact, Salah, he’s not close enough to the ball.
“He’s far enough away from the goalkeeper and the goalkeeper has enough time to react as the ball is so far away from him.”
But again, Schmeichel was not having any of it as he maintained the goalkeeper’s union.
“No disrespect to referees but no referee as far as I know has ever been in goal. Let me tell you, that has a direct impact on what the goalkeeper does,” the Dane continued.
“We’ve seen it today and we’ve seen it a couple of times yesterday, in order to see the ball Martinez has to go to the right-hand side of Mo Salah, the shot ends up in the other side of the goal and we’ve seen from one of the angles that if he gets the opportunity to come a little bit forward here he can close down the angle and save the goal.
“So, how can somebody sat in front of a TV screen say that is not enough for him to save the ball? How can they be judging that?