In Liverpool’s recent Premier League meeting with Fulham, Florian Wirtz’s equalising strike caused quite a stir among fans and pundits because it looked like he might have been offside when the chance was created. But after a lengthy review, the goal was ultimately given — and here’s what happened behind the scenes 👇
🟡 The Initial Call
When Wirtz lashed the ball home midway through the second half, the assistant referee immediately flagged for offside, believing the German attacker was beyond the last defender when the pass was played. From many broadcast angles, it did look like he’d strayed ahead of the defence, prompting confusion among viewers and social media users alike.
📊 VAR Review Changes Things
However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team intervened and took more time than usual to scrutinise the moment. What VAR looks at isn’t just a still frame of the players — officials use semi-automated offside technology to determine the exact moment the ball is played and the precise positions of attackers and defenders at that instant. On review, the technology showed that Wirtz was marginally onside — meaning he was level with or behind the last defender at the moment Conor Bradley’s pass was released.
This meant the original offside flag was overturned and the goal was awarded.
🤔 Why It Felt Controversial
Part of the confusion stemmed from the fact that broadcast replays can be misleading. Fans watching at home might see angles where it looks like Wirtz is offside — especially where his foot appears ahead of the defence. But VAR uses specific freeze-frame technology at the exact moment the ball is played, which can differ slightly from what viewers see live.
Wirtz himself admitted he thought the goal wouldn’t count and didn’t celebrate straight away, reinforcing just how close the decision felt even to the player involved.
🔍 Bottom Line
Even though it seemed tight and sparked debate online, the decision to allow Wirtz’s strike came down to precise frame timing and VAR measurements that showed he was not offside at the pass — so the goal was correctly counted under the current interpretation of the offside rule.
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