Brendan Rodgers: Officials made an excellent decision in awarding Benteke's Liverpool goal

Christian Benteke celebrates his winner against Bournemouth

BRENDAN RODGERS has waded into the row over Liverpool’s controversial win over Bournemouth and believes Christian Benteke’s goal stood after an “excellent decision” from the officials.

The Premier League has written to all top flight clubs to clarify the new offside rules after admitting Benteke's winner in  Monday’s 1-0 win should have been scrubbed.

Benteke's close-range goal at Anfield was allowed to stand by referee Craig Pawson and his assistants despite team-mate Philippe Coutinho having been stood in an offside position and attempting to play the ball.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was unhappy the infringement was not spotted by the match officials and was fully aware of the new rules.

Rodgers, naturally, preferred to look at it differently.

 

Philippe Coutinho (circled) is in an offside position

“It has been said because of the new rule it should not be a goal,” said Rodgers. “Over the course of the season the Premier League might be sending out a lot of images because it is very difficult to call.

“I think the officials did well over the evening and with the goal look at how much they have to assess in a split second. It is very difficult.

“When the ball is crossed in players will look to go for the ball so I think the linesman has made an excellent decision in terms of assessing very quickly there might have been an intent but there is no way Philippe Coutinho is going to get the ball. You can see that.

 

“He is in an offside position when the ball gets whipped in and the goalkeeper has made a slight movement, but I don’t think that movement has affected him.

“The quality of the ball in and the athleticism of the finish has made it difficult. Of course if I am Eddie (Howe) and Bournemouth I am disappointed because a few weeks we’ve been told it should not count.

“But for me, we take the goal and move on.

“From a coaching perspective we look at the goal and we were happy the short corner worked well for us. We created the chance for Christian to score and it was a wonderful finish.

 

“There has been no mention of his timing and his run.

“Bournemouth worked the line well, but Christian timed his run perfectly, it was a great ball in and his athleticism was first class. At no point was he offside. I can understand the frustrations because of the laws and how they are changing but I think it epitomises how the law is.

“There have been images have been sent out but if they start doing that there will be a lot sent out during the course of the season because it’s a fine line.”

Liverpool will assess Jordan Henderson’s fitness before Monday’s trip to Arsenal.