The Key Match Incidents panel (KMI) has deemed the on-field decision to award Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal in the Liverpool game against Manchester United at Old Trafford to be incorrect.
Liverpool’s right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, thought he had scored seven minutes into the match against Manchester United, as referee Anthony Taylor initially awarded the goal. However, VAR correctly overturned this decision, as Mohamed Salah was offside in the lead-up. The KMI has confirmed that VAR was right to nullify the goal, stating that Taylor’s on-field decision was incorrect.
This was the only incorrect decision among the 23 reviewed incidents from the Premier League’s third round of fixtures for the 2024-25 season. The independent panel, which includes three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative, and one from the Professional Game Match Officials Board, will continue to review incidents after each matchday to improve officiating.
Despite Alexander-Arnold’s goal being disallowed, Liverpool won 3-0 against Manchester United, with Luis Diaz scoring twice in the first half and Salah adding a third goal in the second half. Liverpool, now joint league leaders, will play Nottingham Forest at home and then face AC Milan in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Manchester United will play Southampton away and Barnsley at home in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool and Manchester United faced off for the first time in the 2024/25 Premier League season, with Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag meeting in England for the first time after their previous encounters in the Netherlands. Liverpool had won their first two games of the season, while Manchester United had lost to Brighton the previous week. Alexander-Arnold’s goal, initially celebrated, was ruled out after a VAR review showed Salah was offside when he touched the ball. The Premier League Match Centre clarified that VAR recommended disallowing the goal due to Salah’s offside position.
