Sky reveal ball did not cross the line

The talk around Anfield was of a return to the glory days. Everywhere else there was only one debate: did the ball cross the line?

Slovakian linesman Roman Slysko, who awarded the goal, declared himself '100 per cent convinced' that he was right.

Slysko, 31, a doctor, added: "t was a very hard situation and in that kind of situation a person only has a few hundredths of a second to react. I understand that TV replays have also not been able to prove that it was not a goal."

He spoke too soon. Yesterday, Sky Sports used their 'virtual replay' technology to recreate the moment when Chelsea defenders William Gallas and Ricardo Carvalho attempted to keep out Luis Garcia's fourth-minute shot.

Using a computer programme based on missile tracking technology, they created a three-dimensional image based on the exact parameters of the pitch.

And their verdict was unequivocal: the goal should not have stood.

But does their evidence settle the matter once and for all? They are the Premiership's official broadcasting partners and one insider said yesterday: " can't fathom how this might work, but if Sky are putting their name to this, you'd better believe it."