Wirtz appeared to be in an offside position, but after a VAR review, Fulham’s goal was still allowed to stand, according to the BBC.
Liverpool’s latest Premier League draw has been analysed from every possible angle, yet one incident continues to spark debate long after the final whistle.
Florian Wirtz’s equaliser at Craven Cottage looked extremely tight in real time, prompted a prolonged VAR review, and was ultimately allowed to stand — despite claims that the German had drifted just beyond the last defender.
BBC Sport’s football issues correspondent, Dale Johnson, has since clarified why the goal was given, even though the Bayer Leverkusen recruit was technically offside.
“Wirtz looked offside,” Johnson explained in his BBC Sport analysis. “And he was — by the finest of margins. So why did VAR allow the goal to stand?”
The answer lies in the Premier League’s continued use of an offside tolerance threshold, even with semi-automated offside technology now in operation.
Why Wirtz’s goal was allowed as BBC explain VAR leeway
According to the BBC, officials still apply a margin of error to account for limitations in the technology, particularly when determining the exact moment the ball is played.
As a result, a player may appear fractionally offside on freeze-frame images but can still be ruled onside once the permitted tolerance is applied.
Johnson pointed out that when similar guidance was introduced in the 2021/22 season, referees suggested it could lead to “around 20 extra goals per campaign.”
That context is important, especially as Wirtz’s goal came during Liverpool’s most dominant period of the match, initiated by Conor Bradley’s driving run through Fulham’s midfield.
The 22-year-old showed his quality with a composed finish, and the statistics underline his impact despite featuring for just 76 minutes.
Wirtz vs Fulham
Goals: 1
xG: 0.43
Key passes: 1
Touches: 73
Pass accuracy: 83%
That performance continues an encouraging trend, with Wirtz now contributing two goals and one assist across his last four starts.
What Arne Slot said about Wirtz and Liverpool’s approach
Post-match, Arne Slot was keen to look beyond VAR controversy and focus on the broader picture.
“I would love to create more,” the Liverpool head coach admitted. “But when you play with the number of midfielders we use and just one attacker against a 5-4-1 away from home, you can’t always expect chance after chance.”
The Dutchman insisted his footballing principles remain unchanged, even if circumstances demand adaptation.
“My philosophy hasn’t changed,” the 47-year-old added. “But we have to work with the players that are available.”
That availability also extends to fitness management, with Wirtz carefully monitored following recent scans — a topic Slot addressed alongside Hugo Ekitike’s workload after the game.
Curtis Jones echoed the dressing-room frustration, admitting it was “hard to take” dropping points so late after showing greater desire in the second half.
While Fulham supporters may remain unconvinced by the BBC’s explanation, Liverpool’s focus now shifts to a more pressing issue: converting spells of control into consistent results as sterner challenges loom ahead.
