Liverpool thought they had taken the lead early against Aston Villa when Hugo Ekitike found the back of the net with a powerful header, sparking celebrations around Anfield. The French forward rose above the defence to meet a cross and send the ball past the goalkeeper, seemingly giving Liverpool the perfect start.

However, those celebrations were short-lived. After a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside, leaving the scoreline at 0-0. The decision frustrated both the players and fans, as replays showed Ekitike’s run had been mistimed by the narrowest of margins.

The disallowed goal added tension to what has already been a tightly contested game. Liverpool will now look to regroup and maintain their attacking momentum as they continue to push for the opener.