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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has dismissed claims that Southampton's opener should have been disallowed against Liverpool.(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes it was the right decision for Will Smallbone's opener to stand during Liverpool's 3-1 win on Saturday.

The Reds were stunned on the stroke of half-time as the Southampton midfielder capitalised on a defensive mix-up at the back.

However, the goal proved to be redundant in the context of the game as Mohamed Salah's double from the penalty spot created clear daylight after Darwin Nunez's leveller.

There were complaints that Mateus Fernandes fouled Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and was offside in the build-up to Virgil van Dijk and the Brazilian shot-stopper failing to clear the danger on the stroke of half-time.

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But Gallagher has argued that Fernandes was not offside, nor did he foul the goalkeeper.

"I don't think it's a foul and it's actually not offside because the law says he can be onside if he's in line or behind the ball, and he is just behind the ball," said the former official.

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"When Fernandes plays the ball, Smallbone is just behind the ball, so he is onside even though he is further forward than the Liverpool defender."

After three changes during the interval from Arne Slot, Liverpool staged a second-half comeback with Nunez ending his goal-drought and the Egyptian extending his tally in the race to win the Golden Boot - moving level with Sergio Aguero in the all-time Premier League goalscorers list in the process.

The game was largely without any other controversy, with Ivan Juric left incensed by the decision to award Liverpool a penalty at 1-1.
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