The closing moments of Liverpool’s pulsating clash with Manchester City descended into confusion after a dramatic VAR intervention left players and fans stunned at Anfield.

Deep into stoppage time, City thought they had delivered the knockout blow. With Liverpool throwing everyone forward in search of an equaliser, Rayan Cherki collected the ball near the halfway line and calmly rolled it into an unguarded net, sparking wild celebrations among the visitors.

However, the situation quickly became messy.

As the ball rolled toward goal, both Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai sprinted after it. In the scramble, the Liverpool midfielder appeared to impede Haaland, who was lining up a simple finish of his own. Moments later, Haaland was also judged to have committed a foul before the ball crossed the line.

Unsurprisingly, VAR stepped in.

After a lengthy review, the goal was chalked off and Szoboszlai was shown a straight red card — a decision that completely shifted the narrative of the dramatic finale.

Premier League Explains the Decision

The Premier League Match Centre later clarified the reasoning behind the controversial call. According to the officials, Haaland was guilty of a careless foul for pulling Szoboszlai’s shirt. However, that infringement occurred after Szoboszlai had already committed a holding offence that denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

As a result, play was pulled back to the initial offence, Manchester City were awarded a direct free-kick, and the Hungarian midfielder was dismissed.

In simple terms: City briefly benefited from advantage, but because a foul followed immediately, officials reverted to the original incident — which carried the more severe punishment.

From Hero to Villain

The decision was particularly cruel for Szoboszlai, who had earlier put Liverpool ahead with a stunning free-kick after a dominant second-half display from the Reds.

But City refused to fold. Pep Guardiola’s side found another gear late on, with Haaland powering above Ibrahima Konaté to set up Bernardo Silva for the equaliser in the 84th minute.

Then came another twist.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson rushed out recklessly and collided with Matheus Nunes despite the ball running away from danger. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Haaland kept his composure, dispatching the penalty in the 93rd minute to complete the turnaround and register his 21st league goal of the season — reigniting City’s title push in the most dramatic fashion.

A night of breathtaking football ultimately ended with VAR at the centre of attention, leaving Anfield split between disbelief, frustration, and heartbreak. 💔⚽
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