New footage of Wolves' disallowed goal at Liverpool has emerged following their controversial FA Cup clash at Anfield.
The controversial late strike, bundled home from close range by Toti Gomes, would likely have won the game for the Premier League strugglers in front of their away fans. The Wolves players reeled away in celebration, but new footage shows referee Andy Madley instructing his assistant to put his flag up after initially keeping it down when the ball hit the back of the net.
Originally the man on the sideline kept his flag down and began walking back to halfway, suggesting he was happy with the goal. Madley then communicated and asked that he put the flag up, several seconds after the goal, presumably after discussions between the officials. The on-field decision was then upheld as VAR had no clear angle to prove that Matheus Nunes was onside earlier in the move.
The decision left Wolves fuming as Julen Lopetegui was able to see Nunes' position on his club's tactical camera - a view VAR did not have when ITV cameras zoomed in too tight on the penalty area.
He said after the game: “The offside that we had – we have seen it, the offside doesn’t exist, I’m sorry. It’s impossible. Someone has told him [the referee] it’s offside, but we’ve seen the images, it doesn’t exist. The decision is wrong. I make mistakes every day, and sometimes they do too. It is a pity, because I’m sorry, it’s not offside.”
The Spaniard added: "Our tactical camera – at the time I have seen the replay and it was [even] better in the dressing room." His frustration was made all the greater as Mohamed Salah's strike came despite him starting in an offside position - an issue he wants to see addressed.
“It is the same in all the leagues," added the Wolves boss. "My opinion is we have to talk a lot with the referees about this sort of situation. Mohamed Salah was offside before Toti touched the ball, so he got an advantage. Toti, of course, is only going for it because of the offside player.
“The referee heard us and was very polite, but it has happened now. We have to accept it. It is a pity because we deserved to win against a fantastic team like Liverpool.”
Jurgen Klopp said on Wolves' near miss: “I’m not sure about their third goal. We have one angle where it could be offside, but I can totally understand that Wolves is not happy with that. The camera or VAR didn’t work properly. We don't want the VAR to just have one angle. So that’s then tricky. But now we have to play again.”
