---
title: "Rodgers: Benteke decision correct"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/rodgers-benteke-decision-correct/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Smith"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-08-22T13:51:53Z"
modified: "2015-08-22T13:51:53Z"
---

# Rodgers: Benteke decision correct

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that the decision to let Christian Benteke’s goal against Bournemouth stand was “excellent” – even though the Premier League admitted that Philippe Coutinho should have been flagged offside.

Referee Craig Pawson pointed towards the centre circle after the Belgian’s 26th minute close-range effort, which assistant Harry Lennard deemed fair despite the offside Coutinho making an attempt to play the ball.

Changes were made to the interpretation of the rule during the summer meaning that under new guidelines, players don’t have to touch the ball to be deemed offside; they just have to make a movement towards the ball – which the Brazilian did.

Referees’ body PGMOL confirmed on Friday that there had been an error.

The statement from the Premier League said: “Expected outcome: Offside offence.”

But the Reds’ boss insists that Lennard deserves credit for allowing the controversial goal to stand, and also praised Benteke for being in the right place at the right time.

“Firstly, from a coaching perspective we look at the goal and we were happy with our short corner which worked well in terms of how we wanted to create the corner to allow Christian to score,” said the Ulsterman, [as quoted in the Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rodgers-controversial-liverpool-fc-winner-9908083).

“For him it was a wonderful finish. There’s been no mention of him and the timing of his run. Bournemouth worked the line well and you can see them squeezing up to clear the space.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readliverpoolfc.com/readliverpoolfc/2015/08/4843494806.jpg)

“Christian has timed his run perfectly, it’s a great ball in and his athleticism to get up and make the finish is first class to get him his goal. He was the goalscorer and absolutely at no point in the move was he offside.

“I can understand the frustrations and, of course, the laws and how they are changing. But it epitomises really how difficult it is. I thought the officials had done well over the course of the evening.

“For the goal, you look at everything they have to assess in a split second, it’s very difficult. I think over the course of the season they (the Premier League) will be sending out quite a lot of images because it’s very difficult to call.

“You look at the linesman and there are going to be lots of actions by players in offside positions because it’s natural instinct. Players will look to go for the ball.

> For me, the linesman has made an excellent decision in terms of he’s assessed very quickly that there might have been an attempt but there’s no way Philippe Coutinho is going to get the ball.

“You can see he’s in an offside position, of course. The ball gets whipped in, it’s going outwards towards the back post and the goalkeeper has made a slight movement. But I don’t think the movement has affected him.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readliverpoolfc.com/readliverpoolfc/2015/08/4843492841.jpg)

“The quality of the ball in and the athleticism, the touch and the finish have made it difficult. Of course, if I’m Eddie Howe and Bournemouth I’m disappointed because only a few weeks ago I’m told that is offside and shouldn’t count. But for me we take the goal and we move on.”