Manchester City produced a dramatic late comeback at Anfield to beat Liverpool 2-1 in a key Premier League showdown on Sunday, but the match ended in heated debate after several VAR decisions shaped the final result.
Liverpool looked poised for victory when Dominik Szoboszlai fired in a stunning free-kick in the 74th minute, giving the hosts the lead and sending the crowd into raptures.
However, City’s resilience soon reshaped the contest. In the 84th minute, Bernardo Silva capitalised on a well-placed cross to slide the ball past goalkeeper Alisson and bring City level.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when Matheus Nunes was brought down inside the box, leading to a penalty. Erling Haaland stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to give City the win.
But the drama did not end there. Liverpool appeared to snatch a further goal when Rayan Cherki found the net from open play with Alisson up for a corner. A VAR review ruled the goal out due to a preceding foul by Szoboszlai, who was subsequently shown a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The decision sparked fierce reactions from pundits and fans alike. Former England defender Gary Neville described the VAR intervention as a βkilljoyβ moment, saying it βkilled one of the great moments of the season.β Critics on social media also expressed frustration, arguing that the technology had diminished the spectacle of the match.
Despite the controversy, others defended the decision on technical grounds, pointing out that the referee followed the laws when identifying the foul and disallowing the goal.
The Man City comeback at Anfield marks their first league win at Liverpoolβs home ground in front of fans since 2003, ending a long hoodoo and providing a significant psychological boost in the title race.
The victory cuts the gap to league leaders Arsenal to six points with 13 games remaining, keeping City firmly in contention for the Premier League crown.
Pep Guardiolaβs side now lie second in the table, with momentum building as the season enters its critical stages. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain sixth and face the prospect of falling further behind the Champions League positions if results do not improve.
City boss Pep Guardiola offered mixed feelings after the match, praising his playersβ fightback but acknowledging the challenges of officiating in high-pressure games. Guardiola suggested consistency in refereeing decisions remains a topic for future discussions.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed frustration in his post-match comments, highlighting incidents he believed warranted stronger action by officials earlier in the game. His thoughts reflected broader unease among Liverpool supporters about some decisions that went against the hosts.
With the league title race tightening and key matches coming up against top rivals, both City and Liverpool will need to maintain focus. City will aim to build on their comeback at Anfield, while Liverpool seek to arrest their inconsistent run and rediscover momentum.
