Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday, which brought them just two wins away from the Premier League title, is now under scrutiny after a serious VAR oversight was uncovered. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has officially acknowledged a potential error in allowing Virgil van Dijk’s late winning goal to stand.

Van Dijk’s decisive header in the 87th minute, following a corner from Alexis Mac Allister, was initially celebrated as a moment of redemption after his earlier mishap contributed to West Ham’s equaliser. However, replays revealed that the Dutch defender appeared to push his marker, Niclas Füllkrug, before heading the ball past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola—an incident that surprisingly did not prompt a review from VAR at the time.

📸- The captain Van Dijk secures the win! 2-1! [89′] pic.twitter.com/5De5vjoszJ

— VAR Hub (@VARHub) April 13, 2025

The situation escalated after former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane criticized the decision on Sky Sports, saying, “Nice little shove there isn’t there! I thought VAR might want to look at that, but obviously not. But Liverpool do what champions do – they find a way to win.”

In response to mounting backlash and media attention, PGMOL issued a formal statement on Monday morning. A spokesperson for the organization said: “PGMOL can confirm that following a routine review process, an error in VAR protocol was identified during the Liverpool vs West Ham match. The incident involving Virgil van Dijk’s goal should have warranted a closer on-field review due to a clear and significant contact on the defender’s marker. We regret the oversight and are reviewing internal procedures to prevent similar incidents.”

This revelation casts a shadow over Liverpool’s win, which saw them move 13 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table. The Premier League has not commented on whether retrospective action might be taken, but the controversy has reignited debate about the consistency and reliability of VAR decisions.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his team’s mentality after the game, stating: “Getting the goal with Virgil shows you how much mentality these boys have… We don’t win games the easy way.”

With just a few games left in the season and the title within reach, this latest development could potentially complicate Liverpool’s run-in—especially if further action is taken. For now, all eyes will be on the league’s next move and whether justice, by the letter of VAR law, will be served.