Why VAR did not disallow Diogo Jota’s goal for offside as Gary Neville calls for Premier League rule change

The reason why Diogo Jota’s goal against Everton was allowed to stand has been revealed as Gary Neville calls for rule change.

Liverpool resumed their bid to win the Premier League title on Wednesday night as they welcomed bitter rivals Everton to Anfield.

After Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night, there was a hint of nervousness inside Anfield as the Gunners closed the gap to nine points.

However, the nerves faded away after Jota scored in the 57th minute to send Anfield into pandemonium.

Eventually, Liverpool held on for a much-needed 1-0 victory, restoring their 12-point lead at the top of the table with just eight games remaining.

Speaking after the match, Everton boss David Moyes was far from happy with the decision to allow Jota’s goal.

The Scotsman claimed that Luis Diaz, who was coming back from an offside position, impacted Toffees star James Tarkowski, who had to go to ground to clear the ball.

Shortly afterwards, Diaz produced a neat flick to play the ball into Jota’s path, the Portuguese then wiggled away from two challenges to slot the ball into the back of the net.

As reported by The Echo, the goal was allowed to stand as ‘officials in Stockley Park ruled that Diaz did not impact Tarkowski and his ability to play the ball, and therefore did not believe the on-field decision should be overturned’.

Diogo Jota scored the winner as Liverpool secured a 1-0 win over Everton. Image: Getty

Speaking after the match, former Manchester United defender Neville showed his discontent over the current rules.

Gary Neville reacts to the decision to allow Diogo Jota’s goal

He said: “When Diaz was offside in the buildup to the Jota goal and the ball gets played down the channel to him and Tarkowski goes to intercept it and he has to stretch for it cause Diaz is there.

“I don’t like that one, I’m going to whinge about that one as a defender. They score from that, I think that’s a definite offside, I know it’s not in the rules but for me that’s offside.”

Neville added: “I think Diaz is interfering with play because Tarkowski has had to stretch for it.

“Look, this has nothing to do with Liverpool, they deserved to win the game in the second half. I don’t like that one as a defender, Diaz was definitely interfering with play and I disagree with the rule, I don’t like it.”