Why Cody Gakpo was controversially given offside explained

Liverpool fans were left fuming that Cody Gakpo's goal against Aston Villa was ruled out for offside by VAR but it's now been explained.

Jurgen Klopp's side were no doubt eyeing their latest chance to put pressure on Manchester United for the final Champions League spot.

They knew a win over Aston Villa at home coupled with Erik ten Hag's side failing to beat Bournemouth on the south coast would put them in a great position.

Having beaten Leicester City last Monday the team were on a seven game winning run and moments like Trent Alexander-Arnold's stunning goal against Leicester would have filled them with huge confidence.

Many believed they had needed a bit of luck to beat the Foxes with their second goal of the night, arguably the most important, looking offside.

Curtis Jones' first goal had been checked by VAR and was fine but even after the lines were drawn on for the second most felt it should have been ruled out.

On Saturday though the luck went against Klopp's side after they went behind to Jacob Ramsey's goal in the 27th minute of the game.

Gakpo then felt he'd equalised in the 55th minute when he scored following a corner but eventually VAR ruled it offside due to Virgil van Dijk's position in the build up.

Ezri Konsa got a touch to the ball before Van Dijk leaving many to believe that the Dutchman was onside but the Premier League explained that the officials believed the touch was unintentional.

"Cody Gakpo had the ball in the net earlier for Liverpool, but the goal was overturned due to Virgil Van Dijk being in an offside position during the build up," the league's official account explained.

"Van Dijk was in an offside position from Luis Diaz's header. The VAR recommended a review, and referee John Brooks determined it was a deflection off Ezri Konsa, not a deliberate play."

Liverpool fans were not impressed with the decision however, especially as it could have cost them a place in next season's Champions League.

"Still can't figure out why Gakpo's goal was disallowed. Anyone care to explain," queried one.

"This 'explains' it, but there's no way Konsa didn't mean that," claimed a second.

A third supporter argued, "If Van Dijk was not there then Konsa's touch goes for a corner and he's applauded for cutting out a header back to Konate. It's a textbook standard intentional interception."

"There's no way Gakpo's goal shouldn't stand. The defender actively plays the ball to Van Dijk," exclaimed a fourth.

And another was looking forward to an apology, adding, "I wonder if the PGMOL offer an apology for that bizarre decision to disallow Gakpo's goal for an offside against Van Dijk, despite the deliberate action of a Villa defender playing the ball."

Wolverhampton Wanderers' fans might have a wry smile at Liverpool outrage, after they were on the bad end of a similar decision against the Reds earlier in the season.

Gakpo and Konsa were involved in another controversial incident as the Villa defender was lucky to avoid a red card near the end of the first half for his challenge on the Dutch forward.

The Anfield side were saved by Roberto Firmino's late goal in the Brazilian's last home game for the club, but they need Newcastle United or Manchester United to lose their final two games to finish in the top four.