Liverpool supporters have voiced their frustration following a sequence of events that saw Virgil van Dijk’s emphatic header against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final disallowed by VAR.
Van Dijk displayed remarkable skill and determination as he directed Andrew Robertson’s free-kick into the net with incredible power, jubilantly celebrating after outmaneuvering Ben Chilwell in the aerial battle to give Liverpool the lead at Wembley. However, the elation was short-lived, as VAR intervened, prompting an on-field review for a potential offside infraction. Despite Van Dijk himself being in an onside position, his teammate Endo was flagged offside at the moment Robertson took the free-kick.
Although Endo’s positioning did not directly influence Van Dijk’s goal, his presence obstructed Chelsea’s Levi Colwill from contesting the ball, adding a layer of complexity to the situation. Referee Chris Kavanagh ultimately made a contentious call, disallowing Van Dijk’s goal due to Endo’s offside positioning and the perceived impact of his obstruction on Colwill.
This decision further fueled the frustration of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who had already expressed displeasure with the officiating team following Moises Caicedo’s reckless challenge on Ryan Gravenberch, which resulted in the latter being stretchered off the field.
However, the controversy surrounding VAR’s decision to annul Van Dijk’s goal overshadowed the earlier incident involving Caicedo, prompting swift condemnation from Liverpool supporters on various social media platforms.