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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Dutch defender powered home header</li><li>Wild celebrations among Reds at Wembley</li><li>Effort eventually chalked off after review</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Why Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk were denied opening Carabao Cup final goal against Chelsea as VAR points out Wataru Endo involvement in hugely controversial call - explained

Premier League

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Brighton

Manchester United

Chelsea

The Netherlands international defender had the ball in the back of the net at Wembley, with wild celebrations sparked among <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/more-cup-final-ticket-woe-liverpool-fans-stranded-outside-wembley-carabao-cup-chelsea-champions-league-chaos-paris/blt1aa92ffe3a0f5b75" target="_blank">those of a Reds persuasion</a>. Van Dijk outmuscled Chelsea skipper Ben Chilwell before guiding a powerful effort beyond Djordje Petrovic.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Van Dijk’s joy was short-lived as it quickly emerged that a VAR review was taking place. Those at Stockley Park noticed that Wataru Endo was stood in an offside position when the free-kick from Andy Robertson was floated in. As he ended up blocking Levi Colwill, the Japanese midfielder was interfering with play.

THE EXPLANATION

Chelsea also had an effort chalked off in the first half of a keenly-contested cup final, with Nicolas Jackson straying narrowly offside when racing away from the Liverpool backline and squaring for Raheem Sterling to fire home.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Questions have been asked of whether the right call was made with Van Dijk, as forward players act as blockers at just about every set-piece. Colwill was unlikely to get near the Liverpool centre-half as he nodded in, but there is no doubting that his path was blocked by Endo and that he was prevented from making any kind of play for the ball.

WHAT NEXT?

Why Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk were denied opening Carabao Cup final goal against Chelsea as VAR points out Wataru Endo involvement in hugely controversial call - explained | Goal.com Ghana

Virgil van Dijk thought he had broken the deadlock for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, only for a controversial VAR call to rule that effort out.