Liverpool thought they had opened the scoring in the Carabao Cup final when Joel Matip headed home in the 67th minute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a free-kick to the back post where Sadio Mane nodded the ball back across goal for the Reds defender to finish from close range.
However, it was ruled that Virgil van Dijk – who was blocking Chelsea‘s Reece James – was offside in the build up and the goal was chalked off following a VAR check.
Joel Matip thought he had put Liverpool in front with a close range header but it was ruled out
Matip headed in from close range after Sadio Mane nodded the ball across goal at Wembley
The red half of Wembley roared as Matip appeared to break the deadlock, but celebrations were short-lived.
Having watched the goal back, VAR Darren England recommended that referee Stuart Attwell should review it on the pitchside monitor.
Attwell ruled that as Alexander-Arnold delivered the free-kick, van Dijk’s leg was offside – meaning the goal was disallowed.
Ref Stuart Attwell chalked off the goal after reviewing it on the pitchside monitor at Wembley
Many viewers agreed that it was the correct decision and Gary Lineker was among those who took to social media to commend referee Attwell.
‘Think that’s the right decision,’ the Match of the Day presenter tweeted.
Meanwhile, journalist Tim Stillman said: ‘Can see why that was disallowed but, as is often the case with VAR, it feels like an answer to a question nobody asked.’
‘People say VAR ruins the moment of celebration but there is something hilarious about those flares going off only for Attwell and England to go “nah, you’re alright”,’ added CBS writer James Benge.
However, Liverpool fans were not as pleased. ‘VAR is an enemy of football,’ tweeted one Reds supporter.
‘Two of the worst VAR decisions in the history of the football in less than 24 hours. English refs are garbage,’ another said in reference to Manchester City midfielder Rodri not being penalised for handball against Everton yesterday.
‘VAR: Killing football by the day,’ added another Twitter user.
