Chelsea may be a due a measure of compassion for their elimination from the Champions League by Liverpool on Tuesday night.

After that epic match the Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and his players claimed a shot by Liverpool's Luis Garcia had not crossed the line before it was cleared by William Gallas.

Yesterday, in the absence of conclusive pictures, a virtual analysis of the incident, using a system based on Israeli missile technology, backed up their complaint.

Sky Sports - rivals to match broadcaster ITV who recorded an average audience of 8.2 million for the match but could not provide a definitive camera angle - produced animations showing that the whole of the ball had not crossed the line.

The Virtual Replay system computes the position of the ball using pitch coordinates and the distance and angle of the cameras from the pitch.

Notwithstanding the fact that, had the goal not been given a penalty could have been awarded and the Chelsea goalkeeper sent off for an earlier foul, the images are sure to fuel the Londoners' resentment.

But the linesman who gave the goal, Slovak Roman Slysko, said yesterday: "I believe that my decision was correct. My first feeling, which I remain convinced of, is that it was a goal. I am 100 per cent convinced that it was a goal."

The last official to become involved in a dispute with Chelsea, the Swedish referee Anders Frisk, retired after death threats, but Slysko said he was not concerned about similar repercussions.

As the 1966 World Cup final has proved, debates about whether a ball has crossed the goal-line can continue for years.

As soon as Slysko raised his flag and awarded Garcia the goal in the fourth minute any discussion on the issue was rendered meaningless. But with television replays proving inconclusive, the decision was causing continued controversy yesterday.

Garcia himself, who was ideally positioned on the goal-line, said he "felt it went in" while Milan Baros, whose attempted chip gave Garcia his chance, suggested that he should have been given a penalty after the Petr Cech ploughed into him.

The 23-year-old Czech Republic striker had already clipped the ball over his compatriot when he was felled.

"At least it should have been a penalty," he said. "He flew at me, I think he even did not hit the ball. But it is not important now."

Republic of Ireland international Steve Finnan, outstanding once again at right back, insisted Liverpool's progress was deserved. "Over the two games we deserved it - two clean sheets against a top team like that prove it. We have knocked out some big teams to get here and the feeling is that we can go one more and win the trophy.

"It was nice finally to beat Chelsea. We had lost to them in the Carling Cup and twice in the league but each time the games had been very close. We knew a lot about them, though, and we got the tactics right over the two legs of the semi-final."