The flashpoint? A late disallowed goal for 17-year-old academy prospect Rio Ngumoha, which has ignited fury across social media and drawn scathing criticism from club legend Graeme Souness.
The match itself unfolded as expected: Arne Slot’s side controlled proceedings with clinical finishing from Curtis Jones (who opened the scoring with a sharp far-post finish from a Milos Kerkez cross), Dominik Szoboszlai (who doubled the lead after a sublime assist from Mohamed Salah), and Salah himself (who sealed the win with a thunderous penalty he won and converted in the 68th minute). Liverpool progressed comfortably to the fifth round, maintaining their strong cup form under the Dutch manager.
But the drama came deep in stoppage time. With the game already won, young winger Rio Ngumoha — making a late cameo off the bench — produced a moment of magic. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he curled a delightful, dipping effort past Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele into the top corner. Anfield erupted in celebration… only for the linesman’s flag to rise almost immediately, chalking it off for offside.
Replays shown on TNT Sports and circulating rapidly online told a different story. Multiple angles, including side-on views and freeze-frames aligned with the pitch markings, appeared to show Ngumoha level or even marginally onside when the ball was played. Without VAR in operation at the FA Cup fourth-round stage (technology only kicks in from the fifth round onward), the on-field decision stood — robbing the teenager of what would have been a dream first senior goal in front of the Kop.
Screenshot
The decision has sparked widespread outrage among supporters, who argue it highlights the inconsistent and often substandard officiating in English football, particularly in cup ties lacking video assistance. Social media has been flooded with clips zooming in on the pitch lines, grass patterns, and player positions, with captions like “Robbed blind,” “Where is VAR when you need it?” and “This is why kids lose faith in the game.” Many are questioning the assistant referee’s positioning and eyesight, while others point to the broader issue of no VAR in early rounds as a recipe for controversy.
Now, one of Liverpool’s most outspoken legends has weighed in with characteristic bluntness. Graeme Souness, speaking on a post-match punditry segment and later amplified across platforms, absolutely tore into the refereeing decision.
Souness blasted: “It’s an absolute robbery. That young lad, 17 years old, produces a moment of real quality — a proper finish — and gets denied by a call that makes no football sense whatsoever. Look at the lines on the pitch, compare them to the grass pattern, watch the replay carefully from every angle. He’s on. If anything, he’s active and onside. What are we even doing anymore in this sport when a kid gets cheated out of his moment because officials can’t get the basics right?”
The former Liverpool midfielder and captain didn’t hold back on the absence of VAR either: “In a game without the video referee, you expect officials to be sharper, not sloppier. This isn’t about bias — it’s incompetence. That goal should stand, full stop. The lad deserved it, the fans deserved to celebrate it, and football deserved better.”
Souness’s comments have resonated deeply, with thousands of fans sharing and quoting his rant. Many Reds supporters see it as validation of their frustrations, especially in a season where officiating debates have been frequent. Hashtags like #JusticeForRio and #VARNow are trending, with calls for the FA to reconsider VAR implementation in earlier rounds or at least improve assistant referee training.
For Ngumoha, the moment is bittersweet. The highly rated academy talent showed composure and skill beyond his years, earning praise from Slot post-match for his impact. But the disallowed strike has left a sour taste, with fans insisting the youngster was “robbed” of a milestone that could have boosted his confidence and pathway to the first team.
Brighton, meanwhile, will feel relieved to escape with only a 3-0 defeat rather than a more humiliating scoreline, though their performance was largely subdued against a clinical Liverpool.
As the dust settles on another memorable — if controversial — night at Anfield, the focus shifts to the bigger picture: Liverpool’s cup progression continues, but the debate over refereeing standards rages on. Souness’s intervention has only amplified the noise, reminding everyone that even in victory, injustice can leave a lasting mark.
What do you think — should VAR be introduced earlier in the FA Cup, or is the human element part of the magic
