Tuesday 25 August 2015 13:36, UK
Liverpool would be 10th in the Premier League table if two controversial offside decisions had not gone their way in the opening weeks of the season.
The Reds have made an unbeaten start to the campaign with wins over Stoke City and Bournemouth followed by Monday's draw away to Arsenal.
Those results have lifted them into the top three and relieved the summer pressure on Brendan Rodgers. No wonder the Liverpool boss was in a relaxed mood after the game.
"His shirt looks offside," joked Brendan Rodgers. "Great decision by the linesman." But Aaron Ramsey's disallowed goal was no laughing matter for Arsene Wenger.
"It was a regular goal," said Wenger. "I can't see why it was cancelled. It was clear. I could see, live, that he could not be offside because he started behind. Liverpool can't complain on that front after the last week."
Wenger was referring to the fact that Liverpool were also on the receiving end of a generous offside decision against Bournemouth on the previous week's Monday Night Football.
Christian Benteke's goal was permitted to stand despite Philippe Coutinho being in an offside position and making an attempt to play the ball.
The Premier League even decided to release a statement acknowledging that the goal should not have stood under the newly-adopted offside regulations.
With Tommy Elphick also having a goal ruled out for the visitors, it proved the only one of the game with Liverpool claiming all three points.
"It is hugely frustrating," Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe told Sky Sports. "Under the new rules that is clearly offside. Our goalkeeper was affected by the player in front of him.
"We were in the game, the big decisions have gone against us." In contrast, it seems the big decisions are going in Liverpool's favour so far this season.
