Liverpool’s Champions League hopes were dealt a major blow in Istanbul as Arne Slot’s 100th game in charge ended in a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray. While the performance left much to be desired, the major talking point remains the controversial VAR intervention that denied the Reds a lifeline.
Early woes and a narrow escape
The Reds fell behind early in the first leg of this last-16 tie when Mario Lemina headed home, capitalising on more set-piece woes for the Liverpool defence.
The atmosphere in Istanbul nearly boiled over shortly after when Victor Osimhen appeared to double the lead following an Ibrahima Konate error. However, the home side was denied a second goal as an offside was spotted earlier in the build-up against Baris Yilmaz.
The equalizer that wasn’t
Despite a below-par showing, Liverpool thought they had clawed their way back into the game following an almighty scramble from a corner. The ball eventually found the net, but the celebrations were cut short.
Liverpool was denied an equaliser by VAR after Ibrahima Konate was adjudged to have handled the ball. Replays showed the ball appeared to strike the elbow of Konate before taking several deflections on its way into the net; Virgil van Dijk did appear to get a touch, albeit inadvertently.
Understanding the IFAB Ruling
The decision left the Liverpool bench fuming, particularly given the nuances of domestic versus European officiating. In the Premier League, handballs are typically only penalized in these “accidental” build-up scenarios if the culprit gets the final touch.
TNT Sports commentator Sam Matterface suggested that the reason the goal was disallowed was because Konate’s handball decisively led to the goal. This aligns with IFAB’s rulings, which state a handball offence is committed when a player:
- Deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm.
- Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it is in a position that makes their body unnaturally bigger and that position is not the result of their body moving fairly as part of play.
- Scores a goal against the other team with their hand/arm or scores immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm (even if the touch was accidental).
An uphill battle ahead
The decision frustrated Slot and Van Dijk, but the reality remains that it was another disappointing display from a Liverpool side that has significant work to do to reach the quarter-finals this season.
but the reality remains: this was a disjointed performance from a Liverpool side that has left itself with a mountain to climb. While the technicalities of the IFAB ruling will be debated by fans, the focus must now shift to a season-defining week.
The second leg is scheduled for Anfield next week, where the Reds will need to summon the spirit of famous European comebacks to overturn the deficit. However, before they can turn their attention back to Galatasaray, Liverpool must first navigate a Premier League clash against a relegation-threatened Tottenham side a fixture that now carries even more weight as they look to regain momentum.
