Mohamed Salah offside: Should Liverpool’s opener against Bournemouth have been disallowed?

09/12/2018 | Categories: Football | Published by: AC

Updated: 29/05/2023

Mohamed Salah was able to gratefully rifle home a close-range finish, after some questionable goalkeeping from Asmir Begovic in the 25th minute at the Vitality Stadium, enraging home fans who felt that the Liverpool forward was in an offside position in the build-up to his goal.

As a long-range effort from Robreto Firmino was struck, Salah was a yard the wrong side of Bournemouth's back four, seemingly in view of the linesman on the near side.

Firmino's strike was spilled by Begovic, who didn't manage to beat the ball away from the danger area, allowing the Egypt international to steal in and smash home an emphatic opening goal on the south coast.

Here's what happened:

Salah's positioning

Salah is caught the wrong side of the Bournemouth defence as the ball is struck (Sky Sports)

As Firmino strikes the ball from range, Salah is a yard the wrong side of his man. Given that it is in the same phase of play, once the rebound returns to the Liverpool star, he is technically still offside. Bournemouth defender Steve Cook appeals to the officials in vain.

GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL
Firmino hits one from range and Begovic parries it straight into the path of Mo Salah.
Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League or follow here: https://t.co/gCPPirCr0K pic.twitter.com/Im7mpzfoUP
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 8, 2018

Rules

According to the laws of the game, a player is in an offside position if:

any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents' half (excluding the halfway line) and
any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent

The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered. A player is not offside if level with the second last opponent or the last two opponents.

Reaction

There’s a handball by VVD and then Allison trips King. Neither given as penalty. But of course Salah’s offside goal is given… say no more.
— Paul Starr (@ItsMerlin) December 8, 2018

Once again no sympathy regarding Salah possibly being offside! Goal given against us midweek that was clearly offside! These things go for and against you much like the tackles that put your best players out for 6 weeks. Definitely no sympathy.
— Glenn (@glennyboyz) December 8, 2018

Salah's first one was offside but stays on his feet when most would have gone down for his second #BOULIV
— Keith Webster (@keithwebs) December 8, 2018

Small margins but Salah was offside.
— Kam (@Simply1Kam) December 8, 2018

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Original source: https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mohamed-salah-offside-should-liverpools-opener-against-bournemouth-have-been-disallowed/