Marcus Rashford was given ‘benefit of the doubt’ for his goal against Liverpool

Marcus Rashford’s goal for Manchester United against Liverpool looked offside but was given as onside due to a new rule. 

With the game in the balance at 1-0, Erik ten Hag’s side pushed for a second goal. 

Anthony Martial latched onto a horrible touch in the centre of the park by Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, drove towards the Reds defence before playing a through ball for Rashford to get on the end of. 

The Englishman got there and finished the move off expertly. There was a VAR check as Rashford looked offside, Joe Gomez was the defender and it looked like the goal was going to be chalked off. But VAR gave the goal, stating that Rashford was onside. 

Rashford was in fact given the ‘benefit of the doubt’, a new rule proposed by UEFA to give the attacker the advantage in such scenarios. If the two VAR lines touch, the attacker should be given onside. 

The main objective of this rule is to erase the most marginal decisions. 

ESPN journalist Dale Johnson explained the decision. 

He said: “It gives tolerance level, or margin of error, of 5cm back to the attacking player, meaning they can be just in front of the defender but the goal will stand due to the possible inaccuracies in the system.

“Usually the offside image shows both lines to attacker and defender, but when a player is onside due to the tolerance level the computer automatically only displays the line to the defender – which in the Premier League is green to make it clearer that a goal is good. The line isn’t displayed to both players (in any league) because they would sit on top of each other.

“Rashford was marginally offside, but onside due to this benefit of the doubt.” 

The goal by Rashford would have been chalked off in the 20/21 season. 

Despite this slightly controversial moment, United thoroughly deserved to take home all three points as they produced a stellar performance in front of an energetic Old Trafford crowd. 

Ten Hag’s men were better from minute one as Liverpool miserably failed to get any control of the game, Jurgen Klopp’s side were extremely sloppy from back to front. 

United will look to keep up the momentum with another win against Southampton this weekend. For Liverpool, they will hope to secure their first win of the season when they face newly promoted Bournemouth at Anfield.