Liverpool and Ibrahima Konate given handball verdict by UEFA on disallowed goal

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate thought he opened the scoring against Inter Milan, only for VAR to overturn what would have been a crucial Champions League goal

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate had a goal ruled out for handball during the Reds' Champions League encounter with Inter Milan. The French defender believed he had given the Reds the lead at the San Siro when he converted a set piece with a close-range header.

The moment the ball crossed the line, Inter players immediately surrounded referee Felix Zwayer, protesting about a handball incident. Konate wasn't at fault as the ball had struck Hugo Ekitike's arm before reaching the Liverpool defender's path.

However, upon further examination, it emerged Virgil van Dijk had directed the ball onto Ekitike's arm from close quarters, before the French centre-half beat Inter keeper Yann Sommer with his effort. Following an extensive VAR check, Zwayer ruled the goal out.

Former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg revealed he would have permitted the goal if he'd been officiating, while acknowledging UEFA interprets the handball regulation differently.

"It's an interesting one, because as the player is jumping, his arm does come out for elevation," Clattenberg commented during Amazon Prime Video's match coverage.

"It will just be the argument 'was this a deliberate handball' or not, because that handball does go to a team-mate so it gets rid of the argument that he scores the goal direct from the accidental handball.

"So it will only be 'Is this arm in a natural position for jumping when the ball hits the arm'. What you do see is a slight movement of the arm toward the ball.

"I think this could end up being disallowed because of that movement of that arm going toward the ball makes the ball go toward his team mate to score the goal."

Clattenburg went on to say: "In the Premier League this would not be given as a handball, however in UEFA football especially Champions League, they punish handball a lot stricter."

UEFA provided additional clarity on why the goal was ruled out with a brief clarification. It read: "VAR review complete. Decision overturned: goal disallowed. Goal disallowed - handball offence. Liverpool's player, No. 22, touched the ball with his left arm, which was in an unnatural position, out of the body in the build-up to the goal."

It was a stroke of misfortune Arne Slot and his Liverpool squad simply cannot endure at this crucial juncture. The lead-up to the San Siro encounter was overshadowed by Mohamed Salah's furious outburst directed at Slot following the 3-3 stalemate away to Leeds United.

The Liverpool manager responded by keeping Salah at home while he and the remaining squad made the journey to Milan. The Reds are in urgent need of three points against the Serie A giants.

Their crushing 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven left the Reds with just nine points from five fixtures. Last campaign, 16 points was established as the target for securing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the last-16.