It was a night to forget for Liverpool fans — one filled with frustration, disbelief, and controversy. The Reds’ trip to the Etihad on November 9, 2025, was meant to be a statement of intent, but instead, it became another chapter of heartbreak against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The clash, marking Guardiola’s 1,000th game as a professional manager, ended in a dominant 3–0 win for City, leaving Liverpool searching for answers.
From the first whistle, the encounter had all the ingredients of a Premier League classic — intensity, passion, and tactical brilliance. Under Arne Slot’s guidance, Liverpool pressed high and fought to control possession, showing glimpses of the fast-paced football their fans love. Yet, City’s precision and patience soon began to show why they remain one of Europe’s most ruthless sides.
The game’s first major twist arrived just 13 minutes in. With Alisson Becker sidelined, Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili produced a stunning moment — saving Erling Haaland’s penalty with a perfectly timed dive that sent Liverpool fans wild. It was a brief glimpse of hope, a moment that suggested the Reds might just pull off the impossible.
But as football often reminds us, hope can be fleeting. Sixteen minutes later, Haaland made amends, smashing home the opener and sending the Etihad into chaos. Liverpool’s earlier momentum began to fade as City took control of the game.
Then came the moment everyone would be talking about. Just before halftime, Virgil van Dijk seemed to have brought Liverpool back to life, heading in from a corner to spark wild celebrations among the travelling fans. But seconds later, those cheers turned to shock — VAR ruled the goal out. The officials deemed Andy Robertson to be offside and interfering with the goalkeeper’s view.
The decision sent shockwaves through the football world. Liverpool supporters erupted online, calling the verdict “unfair” and claiming their team had been “robbed.” The Premier League later issued a statement, saying:
> “The on-field decision of offside was reviewed and confirmed by VAR, with Robertson in an offside position and impacting the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball.”
That explanation did little to calm the fury. Fans and pundits alike dissected every angle and frame of the incident, debating whether the Scottish defender truly obstructed the keeper’s view. Social media lit up with slow-motion replays and heated opinions — turning one moment into yet another VAR controversy that will be remembered for years to come.
Even former referee Mark Clattenburg weighed in, suggesting that while the officials followed the letter of the law, the decision was “harsh” on Liverpool, reigniting the ongoing debate about VAR’s influence in football’s biggest games.
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