Premier League says Benteke goal should have been ruled out

Nevertheless the referee Craig Pawson and assistant Harry Lennard allowed the goal to stand, in what appeared to be a clear misinterpretation of new guidelines issued on the offside law for this season.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has termed the signing of striker Christian Benteke “great”, insisting that the 24-year-old is a flawless match for the Reds.

The Premier League has now confirmed that Liverpool’s goal should have been ruled offside as Coutinho was in an offside position, made an attempt to play the ball and impacted on an opposition player in the form of Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

The decision was widely criticised after changes to the interpretation of the offside rule this summer and the Premier League, in conjunction with referees’ body PGMOL, has clarified the situation, accepting an error was made.

While it won’t ease the pain of the loss for Bournemouth fans, the Premier League has come out and said that it should have been called offsides based on Coutinho’s positioning and effort to get the ball.

“You look at all his movements, how he picks up the ball and receives it and how he takes on players and whether he comes inside or outside”, he said of the Chilean attacker with an obvious sense of respect for his skills. In this case that criteria was fulfilled and the law therefore not correctly enforced. Speaking after the match, Christian Benteke praised his new teammates for their spirit and desire while commenting on the controversial “offside goal” which gave Liverpool FC three important points. “A yard and a half offside and he is clearly impacting the goalkeeper”.

The Cherries actually had double cause for grievance on the night after a Tommy Elphick goal was harshly disallowed for a foul.

The club’s remarkable rise from almost exiting the Football League to the Premier League, their attractive brand of football, and Howe’s boyish appearance have combined to make them many neutral’s favourites.