Former Premier League referee and current VAR official Mike Dean has explained why the decision to award Marcus Rashford's goal against Liverpool was the correct one.
Rashford broke onto Anthony Martial's through ball before firing past Alisson for Manchester United's second goal at Old Trafford on Monday. The strike had to be checked by VAR before referee Michael Oliver eventually confirmed it had been given.
That was because on first viewing it appeared that Liverpool's Joe Gomez had stepped up in time to play the United star offside. But after VAR Darren England drew up the now-infamous lines, it was found that Gomez's shoulder had played the Englishman onside.
It was a decision that provoked some confusion, with it being suggested that the goal would have been ruled out in past seasons. But Dean, who now serves solely as a VAR after retiring last term has insisted that England made the right call.
"Tight offsides ahead of goals became a theme of the weekend. Some went against the attacker, like Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus. Some went for them, like Manchester United's Marcus Rashford," he told the Daily Mail.
"Two years ago, Rashford's strike might have been disallowed - one of those 'toenail' offsides that was highlighted when VAR first arrived in England. But the Premier League and PGMOL made changes for the good of the game - in agreement with the clubs and in line with UEFA competitions and domestic leagues across Europe.
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"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."
Dean explained the process that England went through before confirming to Oliver that the goal could be given. He revealed that the rules had been changed to benefit attackers, one which is working well.
"First the 'kick point' - the moment a team-mate plays the ball - is confirmed. Then the lines are laid. First a one-pixel line to the second last defender, then another one-pixel line to the attacker, at the point closest to goal with which he can score," Dean added.
"As VAR, I make sure it's all accurate, then lock it in. 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. Overall, the Premier League has benefitted from this approach as it means there are more goals in games.
"I will be interested in seeing how semi-automated offsides are used in this season's Champions League group stages and at the World Cup. That system - powered by artificial intelligence - will provide officials with a 3D image, calculating the players' exact positions on the pitch and telling us if an attacker is onside or offside."
