Referee Mike Dean has explained why Marcus Rashford’s goal against Liverpool would have been “disallowed” in other seasons.
The Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Monday night, as their poor start to the campaign continued. Jurgen Klopp’s side have picked up just two points from a possible nine in their first three Premier League fixtures.
VAR had a long look at Rashford’s goal, with the United striker close to being offside with Joe Gomez being Liverpool’s last outfield player tracking back. In the end, the decision was made that the goal would stand.
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Dean, who retired as a Premier League referee at the end of last season, now works as a dedicated VAR official. He has explained why the goal was allowed to stand, and why in other years it might have been disallowed.
“Two years ago, Rashford's strike might have been disallowed - one of those 'toenail' offsides that was highlighted when VAR first arrived in England,” Dean wrote for the Daily Mail .
“But the Premier League and PGMOL made changes for the good of the game - in agreement with the clubs - and I want to talk you through that and the process we now go through.
“While most of Old Trafford was celebrating United taking a 2-0 lead, VAR Darren England and his team at Stockley Park were taking a closer look at the moment Rashford broke behind Liverpool's back line.
“First the 'kick point' - the moment a team-mate plays the ball - is confirmed. Once they are locked in, the system will then flash up green for onside or red for offside. It's not subjective. It's factual.
“But last summer, changes were made so that if the lines are overlapping, it's onside. It's too close to call otherwise and so the advantage is given to the attacker, as it was with Rashford at Old Trafford on Monday evening.”
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