Former Premier League referee Mike Dean is "convinced" officials made a huge error during Liverpool's win over Southampton on Saturday.

Will Smallbone had stunned Anfield when he put the Premier League's basement-dwellers ahead on the stroke of half-time, with an angry Arne Slot - who was watching on from the stands as he served the second of his two-match touchline ban - responding by making a triple substitution at the break.



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Mike Dean 'convinced' that VAR made big error during Liverpool vs Southampton game	Mike Dean convinced VAR made a 'worrying' mistake during Liverpool win over Southampton	'I'm convinced it's offside' | Dean reacts to Saints goal and Nunez yellow

The changes would have the desired effect as the Reds roared back to win the game 3-1 thanks to a strike from Darwin Nunez and a pair of Mo Salah penalties, the first of which had been won by Nunez.

But ex-Premier League referee Dean thinks Liverpool shouldn't have had to come from behind for the win, and believes Smallbone's goal should have been disallowed by VAR for offside.

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Will Smallbone put Southampton ahead at Anfield(

The Southampton midfielder profited after a mix up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson allowed him to gain control of the ball on the corner of the six yard box, but replays showed that Mateus Fernandes had nipped in front of Alisson to pinch the ball from the Liverpool goalkeeper.

When Fernandes knocked the ball forward, Smallbone appeared to be ahead of him, Alisson and every Liverpool defender, and so he should by rights have been offside.

VAR Matt Donohue didn't spot this though, and so referee Lewis Smith awarded the goal.

Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday at the time of the goal, Dean had spotted that Smallbone was in an offside position.

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