JawaPos.com-The start of 2023 was not so positive for Liverpool FC. LFC is winless in two games going into the new year.
Held 2-2 by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup at Anfield yesterday (8/1) early morning WIB, continued LFC’s sluggish trend after losing 1-3 to Brentford FC in matchweek 19 of the Premier League (3/1) ) .
In these two matches, Jurgen Klopp’s squad lost their main composition. Especially against Wolves, LFC only minus center back Virgil van Dijk, who is currently recovering from his hamstring
The Reds should have been eliminated because Wolves were able to score the third goal. However, defender Tote “Toti” Gomes’ 83rd minute goal was ruled out for offside. The assistant referee does wave the flag. The problem was when the VAR (video assistant referee) checked, there was no corner to prove that the Wolves player was offside.
So why was Wolves’ goal disallowed? From outside the VAR view, Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes was spotted offside by the assistant referee as he received the ball back through the legs of a teammate. Toti’s goal actually started from a corner kick scheme carried out by Nunes
“VAR was unable to prove there was a mistake (offside from the assistant referee, Red) so the decision (goal ruled out for offside, Red) is deemed final,” BBC Sport said in providing analysis.
The incident inevitably sparked controversy. Klopp also admitted Toti’s goal was “okay”. “On the pitch (when it happened, Red) I couldn’t see it because there was only one corner (from the bench, Red). But, for me, it (Toti’s goal, Red) is legitimate,” said Klopp as reported by the Daily Mail.
Wolves coach Julen Lopetegui is of course furious that his team won. “After we saw the photo (Toti’s goal, Red), apparently (offside, Red) was not there. The referee’s decision is wrong. I have also seen the replay,” grumbled the coach who had only handled Wolves as of November 14 last year as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
In Lopetegui’s opinion, Wolves deserved to win the game more than LFC. Moreover, the hosts slumped because goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a fatal blunder which led to Wolves’ opening goal through Goncalo Guedes in the 26th minute.
The embarrassing incident started when Alisson was about to pass to right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold shortly after receiving the ball from Thiago. Apparently, Alisson’s short pass did not reach Alexander-Arnold alias Guedes, who was right in front of him.
The incident sent social media into an uproar. In fact, Alisson, who incidentally is the number one goalkeeper for the Brazilian national team, was linked with the former LFC goalkeeper who made two blunders in the 2018 Champions League final at NSC Olimpiyskiy, Loris Karius.
”That goal should not have happened. However, we all know Ali (nickname Alisson, Red) saved us more (than made blunders, Red),” explained Klopp.