Virgil Van Dijk handled the ball in the build up to Sadio Mane’s goal during Liverpool vs Wolves at the Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool continued their unbeaten run in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton earlier in the night. It was Sadio Mane who scored Liverpool’s only goal of the night. The goal though, was initially disallowed after the referee suspected an Adam Lallana handball prior to Mane’s strike.
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The ball was sent to VAR who overturned the decision after a lengthy check.
After a lengthy VAR delay where the ball appeared at first to strike Adam Lallana on the arm, Sadio Mane’s goal stood.
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However, it has now emerged that there was indeed a handball before the goal was struck. It just hadn’t come off the hands of Lallana but Virgil Van Dijk instead.
Virgil Van Dijk handled the ball in the build up to Sadio Mane’s goal during Liverpool vs Wolves
Videos and Images have since emerged of the ball hitting Van Dijk’s arm before he sent it towards Lallana’s way. However, despite the newly introduced rule being that any handball prior to a goal, no matter whether accidental or deliberate, would result in a goal being chalked off, VAR deemed this to be inconclusive.
Anyone spot the Van Dijk handball in build up to Liverpool’s first goal? The ball clearly bounces up and hits his hand before he plays the ball over the top…VAR? #LIVWOL pic.twitter.com/HZQSEc99yz
— Jamie Allen (@Jamie_Journo) December 29, 2019
Handball by Van Dijk in Liverpool’s build up given as ‘inconclusive’. What a joke. @premierleague #wwfc pic.twitter.com/VdKPf8WniG
— gêørgë (@GlWwfc) December 29, 2019
Van Dijk with a handball in the build-up to Liverpool’s goal. Just seen it and looked like a handball to me. Deemed ‘inconclusive’. #wwfc
— Joe Edwards (@JoeEdwards_Star) December 29, 2019
The entire episode was made even worse when at the stroke of half-time Pedro Neto’s equaliser was disqualified after VAR deemed Jonny Otto’s hand to be offside.
VAR gives this offside but then says that this handball can’t be given as the evidence is “inconclusive”. #VAR #VanDijk #varout #LIVWOL #wwfc @premierleague pic.twitter.com/1GHdjnN3zH
— Sam Jones (@jonezey_) December 29, 2019
Sadio Mane’s goal would be the only one for the night. It however, was enough to hand Liverpool 3 more bids and strengthen their bid for a maiden Premier League title. This was also Liverpool’s 50th consecutive game unbeaten at the Anfield.
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